Last week, Israeli forces announced plans to continue operations against Hamas in the Egyptian border city despite previously ordering civilians to evacuate. Israel has identified Rafah as Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza following more than four months of conflict, the Reuters News Agency reported.
According to estimates, about 1.4 million Palestinians are currently sheltering in the area after fleeing from other parts of the Strip.
The deteriorating situation in the region and the Israeli plans have raised concerns among other nations and different organizations, including the UN, which has announced it will not participate in the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stressed, as cited by Reuters, "There is no place that is currently safe in Gaza" and the UN wants to ensure "that anything that happens is done in full respect of international law, in full respect of the protection of civilians."
On Saturday, G7 foreign ministers also joined this narrative and expressed "deep concern for the potentially devastating consequences on the civilian population of Israel's further full-scale military operation in that area," according to a statement released by Italy, which is currently chairing the Group of Seven wealthy nations.
The foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States met in Munich on Saturday.
(aj)
SOURCE: AP; REUTERS