By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - Reports that Israeli military activity has intensified in Rafah, southern Gaza, are "alarming," and would have "devastating human consequences," according to Ireland’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to submit a military plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah and to defeat Hamas battalions there.
In response to a question by Anadolu regarding the move, the Irish Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated the call for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, saying it is now "more urgent than ever."
"More than half of the population of Gaza is crowded into Rafah. The humanitarian needs of this population are significant," said a ministry spokesperson.
The spokesperson noted that essential needs in Gaza must be met by scaling up access for humanitarian assistance, adding: "In this context, reports of an intensification of military activity in Rafah are alarming."
"Such an escalation would have devastating human consequences and would further hamper critical humanitarian operations. All efforts to prevent this are welcome," the spokesman added.
Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, killing at least 27,585 Palestinians and injuring 66,978 others, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
An interim ruling last month by the International Court of Justice told Israel to cease its abuses, but most international observers say it has been flouting the ruling.