Rafah, 18 May 2024, (GNP): Thirteen Western nations, many of which have traditionally supported Israel, have urged it not to initiate a large-scale military operation in Rafah.
“We reiterate our opposition to a full-scale military operation in Rafah that would have catastrophic consequences on the civilian population,” read the appeal on Friday, sent by the countries’ foreign ministers to their Israeli counterpart Israel Katz and made public.
The signatories included Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and EU member states Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The ministers welcomed recent actions taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet to enhance the flow of international aid into Gaza but urged for “further steps.”
“We urge the Government of Israel to let the humanitarian aid enter into Gaza through all relevant crossing points, including the one in Rafah,” they said.
They called on Israel to take “concrete action for the protection of civilians, international and local humanitarian aid workers and journalists”.
The appeal also called for “a sustainable ceasefire”.
Also Read: Israeli tank kills Indian UN officer in Gaza
Humanitarian calls
The ministers also urged Israel to “open all possible overland supply routes into Gaza” for aid, “resume electricity, water, and telecommunication services,” and significantly increase “the supply of critically needed goods, particularly medical supplies.”
Finally, they called on Israel to “facilitate further evacuations by issuing exit permits for all our citizens, eligible persons, and Palestinians admitted to relocate for humanitarian or medical reasons abroad”.
Eight months into the conflict, Israel is promising to escalate its ground operation in Rafah, despite international worries about the nearly 1 million displaced Palestinians in the southern city.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, safe water, medicines, and fuel for its 2.4 million inhabitants.
The arrival of sporadic aid convoys has decreased significantly since Israeli forces gained control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing last week.
