Israel Insists On Attacking Rafah, UN Secretary General Calls On The World To Prevent

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on those who have influence over Israel to prevent more civilian casualties amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's (PM) plan to insist on carrying out military operations in Rafah, southern Gaza.

"The military attack on Rafah will be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands of civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee," Guterres said at a press conference, confiscated by Antara.

Highlighting the vulnerability of this situation, Guterres stressed that military attacks will not only have a devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza but also on significant impacts across the region.

Guterres has stressed the poor situation in Gaza since October 7 and said his calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as a massive increase in humanitarian aid.

For the sake of the Gazan people, for the sake of the hostages and their families in Israel, and for the wider region and world, I strongly encourage the Israeli government and the Hamas leadership to reach an agreement. "he said.

Guterres also expressed concern over reports emerging from Gaza about hospitals turning into funerals following the discovery of mass graves.

"I am deeply concerned by reports that mass graves have been found in several locations in Gaza, including Al Shifa Medical Complex and Nasser Medical Complex," he said.

Guterres added, "It is very important for independent international investigators, with forensic expertise, to be immediately given access to the location of this mass grave, to know for sure the circumstances in which hundreds of Palestinians lost their lives and buried, or buried again."

In addition, Guterres reminds children and those with special needs to be dying from hunger and disease in Gaza, as well as urging everyone to "do everything possible to prevent human-induced hunger, which is completely preventable."

Given the importance of applying all kinds of pressure to prevent a terrible tragedy, Guterres said the biggest obstacle in providing assistance to Gaza was a lack of security for humanitarian workers.

He said convoys of humanitarian aid, facilities, staff and beneficiaries should not be targeted.

Guterres expressed his gratitude for the assistance by air and sea but stressed that the method could not replace access via land routes. He repeated his call to the Israeli authorities to allow safe, fast and unobstructed assistance.

The UN Secretary-General also said this was a moment to reaffirm our hopes and contribution to the two countries' solution "the only ongoing path to peace and security for Israel, Palestine and a wider region."