Palestinians observe the destruction from the window of a house damaged by Israeli bombings in Rafah, in southern Gaza, May 7, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Foreign Ministry warned on Tuesday that any escalation by the Israeli army in Rafah contributes to Israel's plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, in a statement released as Israel deployed tanks in the city and took control of the border crossing with Egypt.
Bustros Palace, which houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, warned that "any escalation carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the city of Rafah threatens to cause a serious humanitarian catastrophe for more than a million displaced Palestinians in this area ... thus contributing to the implementation of Israeli plans for forced displacement."
The ministry also called on the international community and the countries concerned "to take immediate and effective measures to put an end to the Israeli massacres and the continuing violations by the Hebrew State of international humanitarian law and international resolutions, and to work towards negotiations for a permanent ceasefire."
According to the Israeli army, its operation on Rafah has so far destroyed "more than 150 Hamas targets" and enabled the it to "take full control of the Palestinian side of the crossing, 3.5 kilometers from Egypt," Haaretz reported. The army also claimed to have killed 20 Hamas fighters and destroyed tunnels in the area.
The closing of Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings means humanitarian aid is not entering the Strip, threatening the lives of a population that is majority displaced.
Rafah, which had been — until Monday — one of the few places left in Gaza where Israeli troops had not entered, was under intense bombardment in the lead up to the army's invasion. Israel has faced widespread criticism, including from its most important ally, the United States, for its plans to attack Rafah, where around 1.5 million people are sheltering from fighting across the rest of the Strip. It claims that Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and that in order to complete its stated goal of dismantling the group, it must enter the densely populated area — a perspective that has also received wide criticism from both within Israel and without.