Israel's military action in eastern Rafah has drawn sharp criticism from top international officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation order on Monday, prompting roughly 50,000 residents to leave the southern Gazan city in the last 48 hours. This mass exodus has been described as a result of Israel's military operation in the area.
A senior staffer at the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) highlighted that many of those fleeing Rafah have been displaced multiple times due to Israel's shifting focus from city to city. Hamas has labeled the Israeli military's move on Rafah as a 'humanitarian catastrophe' and a direct threat to over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong expressed Australia's objections to a major Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, emphasizing the potential devastating impacts on Palestinian civilians. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also warned against a major offensive, stressing the need for protection and urgent humanitarian aid for the affected population.
Qatar condemned the Israeli occupation forces' bombardment of Rafah and called for the immediate reopening of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings to facilitate humanitarian assistance. The African Union strongly condemned the extension of the conflict to the Rafah crossing, which serves as a crucial corridor for humanitarian aid.
Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the chorus of condemnation, denouncing the attack on Rafah and the Israeli military's control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov characterized the situation in Rafah as a 'humanitarian disaster,' echoing concerns raised by various international actors.
