Capitals (Union, Agencies)
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced yesterday that more than 630,000 Palestinians have been displaced from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, since the intensification of the Israeli ground attack on the city.
The agency stated on the “X” platform that the number of Palestinians forcibly displaced from Rafah, where the Israeli army continues its attacks, exceeded 630,000. She added that the Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from Rafah headed to the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, indicating that the latter had become unbearably overcrowded and was suffering from miserable conditions.
On May 6, the Israeli army began a military operation in Rafah and took control of the Palestinian side of its crossing, ignoring regional and international warnings about the repercussions.
There were about 1.4 million displaced people in the city, who had previously been forcibly displaced by the Israeli army, claiming that it was “safe” before launching a ground attack and intense air strikes that resulted in deaths and injuries.
In addition, yesterday, 13 Western countries called on Israel not to launch a large-scale attack on Rafah.
The letter sent by the foreign ministers of these countries to their Israeli counterpart, Yisrael Katz, stated: “We reiterate our opposition to a large-scale military operation in Rafah that will have catastrophic consequences for the civilian population.”
The signatory countries are Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, in addition to Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, members of the European Union.
They said, “We urge the government of Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip through all relevant crossing points, including the Rafah crossing.” They called on Israel to take concrete measures to protect civilians, international and local humanitarian relief workers and journalists, and called for a sustainable ceasefire.
The Ministers urged Israel to open all possible land supply routes to Gaza to deliver aid, resume electricity, water and telecommunications services, and boost supplies of much-needed goods, especially medical supplies.
In another context, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill aimed at forcing US President Joe Biden to resume sending weapons to Israel, which had been temporarily suspended.
The text that was passed was approved by 208 members of Republicans and 16 members of Biden’s Democratic Party, but it is likely that it will not be passed in the Senate, given the control of President Biden’s party over it.
Biden had previously announced that he would veto the bill if it passed Congress.
The text calls on the President’s administration to quickly implement all arms transfers to Israel that have already been approved by Congress.
The United States has currently suspended sending ammunition due to Israel’s movements in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
#UNRWA #displaced #Rafah