Israeli offensive in Rafah would mean more civilian suffering, deaths: UN refugee agency

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) expressed Monday grave concerns about the potential consequences of an Israeli offensive in Rafah, stressing that such actions would result in increased civilian suffering and fatalities.

“An Israeli offensive in Rafah would mean more civilian suffering and deaths,” UNRWA wrote on X.

“The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people,” it added.

In response to the escalating situation, UNRWA emphasized its commitment to maintaining a presence in Rafah for as long as possible.

“UNRWA is not evacuating: the Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible and will continue providing lifesaving aid to people,” it said.

The Israeli army issued on Monday morning urgent evacuation orders to Palestinian residents and displaced individuals in several areas of eastern Rafah, urging them to immediately relocate to the town of al-Mawasi.

According to Army Radio, the decision to evacuate residents from eastern Rafah was taken late Sunday in a Cabinet session. It said that around 100,000 civilians believed to be present in the area are set to be evacuated.

Rafah is home to 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who have taken refuge from the war that started after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas incursion that claimed around 1,200 lives.

Since then, the Israeli onslaught has killed more than 34,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, besides causing a humanitarian catastrophe.

Nearly seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians there.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul