UK expresses 'deep concern' about planned Israeli military offensive in Rafah

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The British foreign secretary on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" about a planned military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, at a meeting with an Israeli minister in London.

During his meeting with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, David Cameron said Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis.

"In my meeting with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz today, we discussed efforts to secure a humanitarian pause to get the hostages safely home and lifesaving supplies into Gaza," he noted in a statement.

He went on to say that there is a need for an "immediate humanitarian pause," increased capacity for aid distribution inside Gaza, increased access through both land and maritime routes, and an expansion of the types of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

"I once again pressed Israel to increase the flow of aid. We are still not seeing improvements on the ground. This must change," added Cameron.

Reiterating the UK's support for "Israel's right to self-defense," the foreign secretary, however, stressed that as the occupying power, Israel has a legal responsibility to ensure aid is available for civilians.

He added: "That responsibility has consequences, including when we as the UK assess whether Israel is compliant with international humanitarian law."

"The UK is also deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah," said Cameron.

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

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

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive, now in its 152th day, on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which Tel Aviv said killed nearly 1,200 people.

More than 30,700 Palestinians have since been killed and over 72,000 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement 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.

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