EU warns Israel: Rafah operation 'unacceptable'

2024-05-06 18:05:21 | Last update : 2024-05-06 19:24:24

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Security and Foreign Policy, says Israel's attack on Rafah is unacceptable

EU warns Israel: Rafah operation 'unacceptable'

Condemnations and strong warnings poured in from all around the world on Monday, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that the ground operation in Rafah would commence shortly.

European Union (EU) High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy Josep Borrell stated on X, formerly Twitter, that the EU would oppose an operation in Rafah.

“Israel must renounce a ground offensive and implement UNSCR 2728,” Borrell said.

Borrell also emphasized that the EU must act together with the international community to prevent further massacres in Rafah. “The EU, with the International Community, can and must act to prevent such a scenario,” Borrell said.

Borrell underlined that an Israeli attack on Rafah would bring more famine. “This is unacceptable,” he said.

Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, was one of the cities to which Israel diverted displaced civilians at the beginning of the war, claiming it to be safe.

Currently, 1.4 million civilians reside in Rafah, because of which most leaders and analysts fear that an Israeli offensive would dramatically escalate the scale of massacres in the Gaza Strip.

Since Oct. 7, nearly 35,000 civilians, predominantly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The operation in Rafah is anticipated to significantly augment this already staggering number.

Source: Newsroom