As Israeli forces seize management of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Canada’s overseas affairs minister, Mélanie Joly, is warning the offensive might have dire penalties in an already “catastrophic” state of affairs.
“An invasion of Rafah, which might endanger the lives of girls and kids and harmless civilians, is totally unacceptable,” Joly mentioned on her manner into a cupboard assembly Tuesday.
“We’d like a ceasefire now. We have to be sure that hostages be launched. We’d like to verify humanitarian assist goes into Gaza. The violence should cease. Hamas should lay down its weapons.”
Rafah is the primary gateway for humanitarian assist into southern Gaza.
Greater than 1,000,000 individuals are crammed into town, most of whom have been displaced by the battle, which reached its seven-month mark this week.
“The state of affairs in Gaza is catastrophic,” Joly mentioned.
Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, introduced on Monday it had agreed to an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, however Israel mentioned the phrases didn’t meet its calls for.
“We’ve been following the negotiations, that are very fluid. We’ve been in touch with many officers on the Israeli aspect, on the Qatari aspect, on the Egyptian aspect. We hope the negotiations are fruitful,” Joly mentioned.
On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in opposition to an incursion into Rafah.
“The president doesn’t need to see operations in Rafah that put at larger danger the greater than 1,000,000 folks which are looking for refuge there,” White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby mentioned.
In accordance with the Hamas-run well being ministry in Gaza, greater than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault on Israel that killed 1,200 folks, whereas one other 250 have been taken hostage.
Whereas the violence rages on, the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza is deteriorating by the day. The top of the United Nations World Meals Program warned on Sunday that northern Gaza is experiencing a “full-blown famine.”
Canada’s Worldwide Improvement Minister Ahmed Hussen mentioned an Israeli offensive within the southern metropolis will solely result in extra distress.
“There’s over 1.5 million with nowhere else to go. They’re trapped there. No entry to humanitarian assist. It will trigger plenty of civilian casualties,” he mentioned.
Hussen mentioned the Canadian authorities had suggested in opposition to this operation and is “very upset” with the newest developments.
“We have been hoping that the operation wouldn’t occur,” Hussen mentioned.
— with recordsdata from The Related Press
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