#IsraelUsaHamasWar / Humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations issue urgent joint statement on Rafah
Humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations have issued an urgent joint statement warning of "catastrophic" consequences if Israel launches a ground offensive in Rafah, Gaza. They also criticize the silence and material support for Israel's operations by powerful nations.
The statement was signed by CEOs of #Oxfam, #Amnesty International, #ActionAid, War Child, Danish Refugee Council, and Handicap International.
The statement says over 1.5 million people are sheltering in #Rafah as a last resort, with over half a million of them children. A ground offensive would kill thousands more civilians.
They accuse #Israel of forcibly displacing people to Rafah and then planning to attack it, as well as collectively punishing civilians by denying aid.
The statement also refers to a recent #ICJ ruling ordering Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid, which has not happened. It calls for an immediate ceasefire, release of detainees, and full humanitarian access to Gaza.
The agencies say the offensive has made it virtually impossible to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza.
#TheGuardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/17/middle-east-crisis-live-nasser-hospital-patients-gaza-hamas-israeli-raid?page=with:block-65d0710c8f0867c21574e88e#block-65d0710c8f0867c21574e88e
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