UN chief urges Israel to stop escalation

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over Israel's military attack on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, urging the occupying Zionist regime to stop further escalation and engage in ongoing ceasefire talks. .

Guterres made the comments on Tuesday at a press conference after the Israeli army closed the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings on the border with Egypt.

"I am shocked and concerned by the renewed military activity in Rafah. The closure of both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings is particularly damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation. They must be reopened immediately," Guterres said.

The UN chief further warned Israel that an attack on the southern town of Rafah would be "a strategic mistake, a political disaster and a humanitarian nightmare".

He also called on the Israeli regime to "stop any escalation and engage constructively in the ongoing diplomatic talks", stressing that "civilians have suffered enough death and destruction" since the war began in early October last year .

"Make no mistake - a full-scale attack on Rafah would be a human catastrophe," the United Nations Secretary-General said.