UNRWA Rejects Israel's Pressure To Get Residents Out Of Rafah Ahead Of Militaryferd Operations

ILUSTRATE / UNICEF via news.un.org

JAKARTA - The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) of the institution will remain in Rafah City "as long as possible" to continue providing assistance.

UNRWA confirmed when the Israeli armed forces (IDF) urged residents to immediately flee the southernmost region of the Gaza Strip.

"UNRWA did not evacuate. UNRWA will maintain its presence in Rafah as long as possible and will continue to provide assistance to save people's lives," the UN agency said in X.

UNRWA then warned Israel's attack on Rafah would cause more suffering and death of civilians.

"The consequences will be very damaging for 1.4 million people," the agency said.

Meanwhile, the IDF distributed brochures in the area, calling on residents in the eastern part of Rafah to evacuate.

In recent hours, leaflets calling on the inhabitants of the eastern Rafah to temporarily flee to extended humanitarian areas have been passed down, the Israeli military said in a statement.

"The call to temporarily move to humanitarian areas was conveyed through leaflets, SMS messages, phone calls, and media broadcasts in Arabic," the IDF said, adding.

Concerns have increased recently over the consequences of a potential Israeli attack on Rafah, which is considered the last defense of the Palestinian Hamas fighter group, if ceasefire negotiations fail.

On Sunday (5/5), Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Hamas of not being serious about reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Therefore, he said, an order for Israeli soldiers to enter the Rafah would be granted in the near future.