OCHA: Israel is probably committing war crimes in Rafah
Any move by the illegal Israeli regime to extend its full occupation of Gaza to the densely populated southern city of Rafah would constitute a war crime that must be prevented at all costs.
That is according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Emergency Aid OCHA. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said, "We as the United Nations and the United Nations Member States can testify and we can make clear what the law says, "under international humanitarian law, bombing in populated areas it could be a war crime.” The move follows OCHA reporting "an increase in attacks" in the Rafah region on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, thousands of Gazans continue to pour into Rafah, including many who fled the fierce fighting in Khan Younis. Situation in Gaza As a result of the influx of people, the population of Rafah has increased fivefold since the illegal Israeli regime launched a genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Laerke said: "I want it to be clear, the escalation of hostilities in Rafah in this situation can cause a large number of civilians to lose their lives and we must do everything possible to prevent that." More than 27,000 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 67,000 others have been injured since the Zionist regime launched a war against the Gaza Strip in October last year, while 85 percent of the area's 2.3 million residents remain homeless.
