DIRECTOR General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tuesday (30/4), expressed his concern regarding Israel’s planned ground invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, which is home to more than 1 million Palestinians seeking refuge from the Israel-Hamas war.
“A large-scale invasion of the city of Rafah would be a humanitarian disaster. We ask Israel to cancel (the plan),” Tedros said on the X social media platform.
“We urge all parties to work towards a lasting ceasefire and peace,” he added.
Tedros’ statement came following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday (30/40) to attack Rafah, despite reports of a possible ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Netanyahu said the Israeli military would come to Rafah to destroy Hamas forces there ‘with or without a ceasefire agreement’.
Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ cross-border attacks on October 7, which killed around 1,200 people.
More than 34,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed and thousands injured amid mass destruction and a crisis of basic needs.
During more than six months of Israel’s war, much of the Gaza Strip was destroyed and 85% of its population was displaced amid shortages of food, clean water and medicine due to the blockade by Israel, according to the UN. (Ant/Z-1)
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