UN Official Warns of Potential Catastrophe in Rafah Amid Israeli Attacks
Amidst escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip, a senior United Nations official has issued a grave warning of the potential consequences of an Israeli ground attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
As air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military continue to target Rafah, located at the southernmost point of Gaza, Martin Griffiths, the UN's Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, sounded the alarm on Wednesday morning. Griffiths emphasized the urgent need for Israel to refrain from launching a ground offensive on the city, cautioning that such a move could result in catastrophic loss of life.
"The world wants Israel to avoid a ground attack on Rafah," stated Griffiths. "A ground attack on Rafah would result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing starvation and mass graves."
The dire warning comes amid ongoing efforts to prevent further escalation of violence and humanitarian crisis in the region. Griffiths stressed the urgency of releasing remaining hostages held in the conflict zone, emphasizing that failure to do so could exacerbate an already dire situation.
Reports from Palestinian media on Wednesday morning also highlighted continued attacks by Israeli forces on the city of Rafah, further heightening concerns about the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire.
