UN agency warns that any offensive in Rafah would be a tragedy beyond words

The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to escalate, with new developments emerging on Friday that could have far-reaching consequences. The United Nations has issued a stark warning, stating that hundreds of thousands of people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah are at “imminent risk of death” if Israel launches a military assault in the area. Rafah is a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid and is currently home to thousands of displaced Palestinians.

The UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, described a potential invasion of Rafah as a “tragedy beyond words.” Despite international pressure and warnings, Israel has indicated its intention to carry out a ground invasion in the city, citing it as a stronghold of Hamas.

In response to the escalating violence, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has imposed a trade ban on Israel. Erdogan stated that Turkey could no longer “stand by and watch” the violence in Gaza, leading to the suspension of all imports and exports to Israel until a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached. The trade between the two countries amounted to $9.5 billion.

The situation on the ground remains dire, with reports of an Israeli strike on Rafah that resulted in the deaths of seven people, including children. This comes as Hamas sends a delegation to Egypt for further ceasefire talks, indicating a glimmer of hope for a potential resolution to the conflict.

The overall death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with at least 34,622 Palestinians reported killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, urging restraint and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.