The children left Rafah in southern Gaza in the trunk of their car.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres today once again warned Israel against launching a full-scale assault on Rafah. At the same time, the UN humanitarian team also said that any further escalation of hostilities in Gaza could bring aid operations to a complete standstill and lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Speaking to world leaders at the Arab League summit in Bahrain, Guterres said: "At a time when we need massive life-saving assistance, any attack on Rafah is unacceptable, because it will bring us new pain and suffering." ”
Guterres reiterated his strong support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. He stressed that UNRWA "remains the backbone of our operations in Gaza and a lifeline for Palestine refugees throughout the region." It needs full support and financial assistance".
Aid is running out
The World Food Programme said its food and fuel stocks in Gaza would run out in a matter of days, and WFP has been unable to receive aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing since May 6. This situation is becoming unsustainable. While WFP continues to provide special nutritious food to pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of five across Gaza, by the end of last week, distribution in Rafah had been suspended and in Khan Younis and Deir Balah it was able to distribute very limited food.
WFP warned that in northern Gaza, acute malnutrition among children under two years of age rose from 15 per cent in January to 30 per cent in March. These children are three to 12 times more likely to die than well-nourished children.
Mass evacuation orders
UNRWA reported late Wednesday that 600,000 people, a quarter of Gaza's entire population, had been forced out of Rafah over the past week following continued Israeli military activity and evacuation orders. Another 100,000 people were forced to evacuate from the north.
The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of 285 square kilometers of Gaza, which accounts for about 78 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. And the Israeli army. The bombardment of much of the Gaza Strip continues, resulting in more civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of homes and other civilian infrastructure.
Ground incursions and heavy fighting have been reported in places such as Jabaliya in northern Gaza, Deir Barah in central Gaza and Rafah in the south.
The OCHA said the Rafah crossing remained closed as of May 15. The Keremshalom crossing is temporarily open, but current security and logistical conditions have hampered large-scale humanitarian aid shipments.
South Africa sued Israel
In order to prevent Israel from launching further military operations in Rafah and its environs, South Africa recently asked the International Court of Justice to issue a new order directing interim measures to "ensure the survival of Palestinians in Gaza." The International Court of Justice began a two-day hearing on the request on Thursday.
In its latest application, submitted on May 10, South Africa noted that Rafah is a "last resort" for Gazans and that the city is also a "last viable centre" for providing shelter and essential services, including health care. The Israeli military incursion into Rafah will bring humanitarian needs to unprecedented levels.
In view of this, South Africa requested the International Court of Justice to direct new interim measures requiring Israel to "immediately withdraw and cease its military offensive in Rafah province"; demands that Israel take "all effective measures" to allow "unhindered access" to Gaza for humanitarian aid workers, journalists and investigators; Israel was asked to indicate the measures it had taken to comply with all interim measures directed by the International Court of Justice.
On 29 December last year, South Africa filed an application with the Court alleging that Israel had violated its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The International Court of Justice issued an order on 26 January this year, directing Israel to take interim measures, inter alia, to prevent the commission of genocide, to prevent and punish incitement to commit genocide, to prevent the destruction of evidence, and to take immediate and effective measures so that it can provide much-needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the dire living conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has vehemently denied the allegations and plans to respond to South Africa's latest request on Friday.
