The international community has issued consecutive warnings about the catastrophic risks associated with Israel launching a military operation in Rafah, located in southern Gaza. Spain and Ireland have urged swift intervention by the international community to prevent the looming disaster on the horizon.
A rare joint statement by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, cautioning members of the Commonwealth on Tuesday, highlighted the potential disastrous impact of any Israeli military operation in Rafah on Palestinian civilians. Leaders of these three allied nations expressed serious concerns about indications of an Israeli ground attack on Rafah, calling on the Israeli government to refrain from this course of action.
The statement emphasized the catastrophic consequences of a military operation in Rafah, with approximately 1.5 million Palestinians seeking refuge in the region and having no alternative safe haven. There is an urgent need for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian purposes and negotiations for a political solution to achieve lasting peace.
Furthermore, Spain and Ireland have called on the European Union to conduct an urgent review of Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations in Gaza. They emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to halt the Israeli occupation’s extensive aggression on Rafah in southern Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar, jointly sent a message to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, urging an urgent investigation into whether Israel is fulfilling its commitments and respecting human rights in Gaza.
The escalating Israeli hostilities in Rafah were highlighted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, warning of the catastrophic threat posed to civilians and infrastructure. Emphasizing the importance of upholding the basic necessities of life for civilians under international humanitarian law, the statement stressed the need to protect civilian lives and infrastructure. The prospect of entering a new stage of conflict was also mentioned.
Israel, as the occupying power, bears the responsibility under international law to ensure the basic needs of civilian populations. The forced displacement of civilians is explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law, as is the use of human shields and indiscriminate attacks resulting in disproportionate civilian casualties.
According to the United Nations, approximately 1.4 million people have sought refuge in Rafah due to the ongoing Israeli aggression in the region since October 7. This has transformed Rafah into a massive camp, the only major city in the region that the occupying army has not yet launched a ground invasion into.
The situation in Rafah remains critical, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate international intervention to protect civilian lives and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
