Italy reiterates concern about Israel's planned operation in Rafah

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated Italy's opposition Tuesday to Israel's planned military offensive in southern Gaza.

"We will reiterate that we are against a ground operation by Israel in Rafah, which could have even more catastrophic consequences for the civilians in the region," Meloni told at parliament.

Her remarks came as a wide range of concerns are being expressed by many countries about Israel's planned operation in the southern Gaza Strip city, packed with 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.

About 1.5 million Palestinians previously displaced by Israel's offensive against Gaza are holed up in Rafah, seeking refuge from hostilities.

Israel's reported plans for an offensive in the city have sounded international alarm bells, with many urging restraint or a cancelation of the operation.

Touching on the safety of aid delivery into Gaza, she expressed support for a maritime corridor initiative for increased humanitarian aid to civilians in the coastal enclave via ships from Cyprus.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, last October, which killed less than 1,200 people.

More than 31,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and almost 74,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.​​​​​​​

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.