An aerial view of the makeshift tents as the Palestinian families seek refuge at the El-Mavasi district as they struggle to find clean water, food and medicine as the Israeli attacks continue in Rafah
Israel’s war on Gaza: Hamas says Rafah assault would end captive talks
By Lyndal Rowlands, John Power and Umut Uras
Any Israeli ground offensive on Rafah will “blow up” the captive exchange negotiations, Al-Aqsa television channel quoted a senior Hamas leader as saying on Sunday.
The United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Arab nations are warning Israel not to go ahead with the planned offensive, saying it would cause a humanitarian catastrophe.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to travel to Doha to hold talks with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two leaders are expected to discuss the role of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s future.
At least 112 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to at least 28,176. At least 67,784 Palestinians have been wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139
Aljezera
In another development, Arabian news had earlier reported that Saudi Arabia on Saturday warned that an Israeli invasion of Gaza’s Rafah will have extremely dangerous repercussions.
“Invading Rafah… which is the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians whom the brutal Israeli aggression displaced will have [grave] consequences,” the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s “rejection and strong condemnation of forcibly” displacing people, and renewed its call for “an immediate ceasefire.”
“This [continuous] violation of international law and international humanitarian laws [makes it] necessary for the [United Nations] Security Council to hold an urgent session to prevent Israel from causing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe whom everyone who supports the aggression will be responsible for,” the ministry added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week said he had ordered troops to prepare to go into the city, crowded with displaced Palestinians, as it hunts down those responsible for the deadly October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
The announcement has prompted concern from foreign governments including the United States and aid agencies grappling with a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the war.
The UN says about half of Gaza’s 2.4 million people are now sheltering in the city, with many sleeping outside in tents and makeshift shelters, and mounting concern about lack of food, water and sanitation.
