Hamas says any military action would have catastrophic consequences
Hamas warned on Saturday that “tens of thousands” of casualties could be caused if Israeli forces attack Rafah in the southernmost Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week he had ordered troops to prepare to enter the city, crowded with displaced Palestinians, to hunt down those responsible for a deadly attack in southern Israel on October 7.
The news has raised concerns among foreign governments, including the United States, and aid agencies struggling to deal with Gaza’s growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the war.
Hamas said in a statement that any military action would have catastrophic consequences and “if Rafah… were invaded, it could result in tens of thousands of martyrs and injuries.”
Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip, said it would hold “the U.S. government, the international community and the Israeli occupation” accountable if this happened.
Rafah, located on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, has become a last resort for civilians fleeing Israel’s relentless bombardment of other parts of the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations says about half of Gaza’s 2.4 million people are currently sheltering in the city, with many sleeping outdoors in tents and makeshift shelters amid growing concerns about a lack of food, water and sanitation.
Filippo Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said on Friday that Israel’s massive offensive on Rafah “will only lead to another layer of endless tragedy”.
Netanyahu has ordered military officials to develop plans to “evacuate” Rafah and “destroy” Hamas fighters in the city.
Witnesses reported new attacks on Rafah early Saturday, raising Palestinian fears of an imminent ground invasion.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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