Hamas’s top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, confirmed in a phone call with the Qatari prime minister and a senior Egyptian minister that the militant group had accepted Israel’s terms of the ceasefire, according to multiple media outlets. The two countries have led negotiations between the warring parties.
However, Israeli leaders reportedly indicated that the deal proposed by Hamas falls far short of Israel’s demands for an end to the fighting. Israel said it would send a delegation to continue ceasefire talks and in the meantime also continue Operation Rafah.
‘Make an agreement’: Guterres
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his urgent call for both sides to “take the additional steps necessary to realize the agreement and stop the current suffering,” his spokesman said in a statement.
The Secretary-General also expressed deep concern about signs that a large-scale military operation may be imminent in Rafah.
“We are already seeing a movement of people. “Many of these people live in desperate humanitarian situations and are repeatedly displaced,” the statement continued.
The Secretary-General also reminded the parties that the protection of civilians is of paramount importance to international humanitarian law.
Opportunity ‘can’t be missed’
In a speech late evening New York time, Prime Minister Guterres told reporters at a press conference with the Italian president that he had “made a very strong appeal to the Israeli government and the leadership of Hamas to take further action.” Mileage is needed to achieve this absolutely critical agreement.”
The UN Secretary-General emphasized, “This is an opportunity that cannot be missed.”
“A ground invasion of Rafah is unacceptable due to its devastating humanitarian consequences and destabilizing effects in the region..”
UNRWA No evacuation
The morning after news of Israel’s evacuation order broke, the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) posted on “The consequences will be devastating for 1.4 million people.”
“UNRWA is not evacuating. UNRWA will remain in Rafah for as long as possible and continue to provide life-saving support to people.”
Children in danger of survival
Following that warning, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that “a military siege and ground incursion in Rafah would pose catastrophic risks to the 600,000 children protected there.”
Many people are “extremely vulnerable and on the brink of survival.” united nations organization The statement said it highlighted the increased violence in Rafah and the fact that potential evacuation routes “are likely buried in landmines or littered with unexploded ordnance.”
A military move against Rafah would likely result in very high civilian casualties and destroy “the few remaining basic services and infrastructure” people need to survive, UNICEF argued.
“Hundreds of thousands of children currently trapped in Rafah are injured, ill, malnourished, traumatized or living with disabilities.” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “Many people have been displaced multiple times and have lost their homes, parents and loved ones. They must be protected along with the rest of the services they rely on, including health facilities and shelters.”
Listen to us below In-depth interview with Louise Waterridge from UNRWA As fears grow of a full-scale Rafa invasion:
call for a full-blown famine
In this regard, the Secretary-General of the UN World Food Program (WFP) said: The northern part of Gaza is now experiencing “complete famine”… It’s moving south.“.
Cindy McCain’s comments Sunday reflected serious and repeated concerns from other senior U.N. officials and the international community about aid restrictions and delays imposed by Israeli authorities.
“Israeli authorities continue to deny humanitarian access to the United Nations,” said UNRWA Secretary-General Philippe Razzarini. “In the last two weeks alone, we have recorded 10 incidents, including the shooting of a convoy and the arrest of UN staff,” he said. Harassment, stripping, threats with weapons, long delays At checkpoints, convoys were forced to travel in the dark or stopped,” he said in a post on X on Sunday.
The UNRWA secretary-general condemned a rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Gaza Strip, killing three Israeli soldiers and shutting it down. The crossing is a major humanitarian aid entry point.
‘Al Mawasi is not safe’
According to media reports, Israeli forces dropped leaflets over eastern Rafah advising local residents to move to al-Mawash, a so-called safe zone west of Rafah next to the Mediterranean Sea.
UN humanitarians have previously rejected a similar evacuation plan by the Israeli military on the grounds that it would mean forced displacement.
“Al Mawasi has a severe lack of infrastructure, including water. It is impossible to support tens of thousands of displaced people there.UNRWA Gaza spokeswoman Louise Waterridge said: united nations news.
More than 400,000 people are already sheltered in coastal areas, according to the UN agency’s latest assessment, with the nearby city of Khan Younis reporting an influx of displaced people. To help them, UNRWA is operating a new health center in the region, along with two temporary health centers in Al Mawasi.
“Contrary to claims (to the contrary), it is far from safe because nowhere in Gaza is safe.”” UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma asserted.
At least 34,680 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 14,000 children, and more than 78,000 people have died since the Hamas-led terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, which triggered massive Israeli bombing and ground attacks, according to Gaza health authorities. It is said that he suffered this injury. About 1,250 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage in southern Israeli communities.
‘Inhumane’ evacuation order: High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Monday that civilian death, suffering and destruction would increase beyond already unbearable levels following the evacuation order in eastern Rafah.
“This is inhumane. This runs counter to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian and human rights law, which place the effective protection of civilians as a paramount concern.
“It is inconceivable to force hundreds of thousands of people from Rafah into an area that is already devastated, has little shelter, and is virtually impossible to access the humanitarian assistance they need to survive. “It only exposes them to more danger and misery.”
“Further attacks on key humanitarian centers in Gaza are not the answer at this time.”Mr Türk added.
