34,568 Palestinians Killed In Gaza, UN Warns Of Tragedy Risk If Israel Attacks Rafah

Israeli military land operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) warned of the risk of a tragedy that could not be disclosed in words if Israel attacked Rafah in southern Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians in the enclave continued to grow.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on Tuesday that Israel's planned land operation in Rafah could be an undisclosed tragedy with words.

"The simplest truth is, land operations in Rafah will become a tragedy that cannot be expressed in words. No humanitarian plan can fight this," Griffiths said.

The statement was made by Griffiths after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before representatives of families of war victims and hostages, his troops would enter Rafah whether there was an agreement or not.

"The idea that we will end the war before achieving all its goals is not an option. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas battalions there, whether there is an agreement or not, to achieve a total victory," PM Netanyahu said.

Israel's main ally, the United States and a number of other countries and international agencies have warned of the risks posed if Israel continues to carry out attacks on the Rafah.

"The world has asked the Israeli government for weeks to save Rafah, but ground operations there will soon be carried out," Griffiths said.

What PM Netanyahu said was different from the previous news. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who according to reports from Israeli news site Ynet, approved the final plan for a military attack on Rafah with plans to move civilians to territory in the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli media quoted military sources as saying Israeli soldiers were ready to invade the Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip within 72 hours, if a ceasefire agreement was not reached.