European Commission chief: Israel's planned attack on Rafah "totally unacceptable"

The president of the European Commission has expressed opposition to Israel's planned ground invasion of the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, denouncing the potential attack as "totally unacceptable".

Ursula von der Leyen made the comments after Israel said it had approved final plans for the occupation of Rafah, despite growing international opposition.

"It would be completely unacceptable for Israel to attack Rafah," she said, adding that the EU Commission would meet with its member states and act on it if Israel occupied Rafah.

Von der Leyen, also in response to a question about whether the attack on Rafah would constitute "a red line" and result in EU sanctions against Israel, said: "I am never drawing red lines, but I think that it would be completely unacceptable if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were to occupy Rafah."

The head of the European Commission further described the situation in Rafah as "unbearable" and "unacceptable", while recalling her visit to this city.

She also reiterated her call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the so-called two-state solution as "the only solution that will bring peace to the region".