Geneva, Feb 6 (EFE).- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Tuesday that any planned Israeli military offensives against the densely populated Rafah governorate in the Gaza Strip could amount to \u201cwar crimes.\u201d <\/p>
The comments by the UN came after Israel warned of expanding its ground offensives to the southern city.<\/p>
\u201cAny move by Israel to extend its full-scale invasion of Gaza into the massively overcrowded southern city of Rafah could lead to war crimes which must be prevented at all costs,\u201d OCHA said in a statement.<\/p>
According to OCHA, due to the continued exodus of Gazans to the south of the Strip, Rafah\u2019s population has increased by \u201cfivefold\u201d to over 1.1 million people since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7.<\/p>
\u201cWe can make (it) clear\u2026 under international humanitarian law, indiscriminate bombing of densely populated areas may amount to war crimes,\u201d OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told journalists in Geneva.<\/p>
The remarks come as OCHA reported an \u201cincrease in strikes\u201d in Rafah on Sunday and Monday, following Israel’s recent announcements of plans for a ground invasion of the overcrowded governorate.<\/p>
Laerke said that thousands of Gazans continue to \u201cflood\u201d into Rafah, including many who have fled intense fighting in Khan Younus as the Israeli military expands ground operations towards the south of the enclave.<\/p>
He described a dire situation in Rafah, where residents are already grappling with a health crisis due to inadequate public services, leading to a “mental health emergency” with nearly \u201ceach and every child suffering some type of trauma.”<\/p>
\u201cTo be clear, intensified hostilities in Rafah in this situation could lead to large-scale loss of civilian lives and we must do everything possible within our power to avoid that,\u201d Laerke underlined.<\/p>
Meanwhile, speaking at the same press conference, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa denounced recent attacks on the offices of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and Al Amal hospital in Khan Younis, where aid worker Hedaya Hamad was killed.<\/p>
\u201cIn the last more than two weeks the hospital was surrounded by heavy shelling, fighting, no way in, no way out, (it was) hit several times and the last time was last Friday when this colleague was killed,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>
He added that at least 8,000 displaced people who had sought shelter at the hospital left on Monday after Israeli authorities \u201cguaranteed safe passage.\u201d<\/p>
However, nearly 100 people remain inside the ailing health facility including elderly patients and others with disabilities who could not be moved, along with staff and volunteers.<\/p>
The situation in Gaza is \u201cbeyond catastrophic\u2026a nightmare\u201d that continues to get worse, he said. EFE<\/p>
Is\/bks\/sc<\/p>
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