Moscow, February 15.- If Israel begins a ground offensive against the city of Rafa, in the south of the Gaza Strip, the possibility of an overflow into Egypt of the Palestinians who are overcrowded in that city will increase, warned this Thursday the Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths.
“The possibility of a military operation in Rafa, with the possibility of closing the [border] crossing, with the possibility of overflow, [...] a kind of Egyptian nightmare [...] is something that we have before our eyes” Griffiths declared, quoted by Reuters.
According to the senior official, the idea that the population of Gaza can be evacuated to safety is an “illusion.” “We should all hope that Israel's friends and those who care about Israel's security will advise them well at this time,” he added.
Previously, Richard Peeperkorn, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that an Israeli offensive in Rafa would cause an “unfathomable catastrophe” and bring the Gazan health system “to the brink of collapse.”
Meanwhile, this Tuesday, the Government of South Africa presented an “urgent petition” to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for Israel's decision to carry out an offensive in the Gazan city. (RT) (Photo: AP)
