A full-scale Israeli military operation in the densely populated Rafah area — where 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering near the only point of entry for goods — would be devastating, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the Middle East told the Security Council today, as he appealed for additional access points to northern Gaza to increase the flow of aid and reduce congestion in the south.
Painting a grim picture of the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, recalling his recent visit there, said: “What I saw was shocking and unsustainable.” Amid continuing battles across Gaza, including intensified airstrikes in the Rafah area, over 2 million people face extreme food insecurity while communicable diseases are on the rise. “I cannot stress enough how urgently we need a deal that will bring about a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages,” he asserted. Läs pressmeddelande