Top EU diplomat urges Israel to end military operation in Rafah
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Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell urged Israel to "immediately" end its military operation in Rafah in a statement on Wednesday.
The EU foreign policy chief said the Israeli offensive in Gaza's southernmost city is disrupting deliveries of humanitarian aid and "leading to more internal displacement, exposure to famine and human suffering."
Borrell said the European Union called on Israel to "refrain from further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza." He warned that continuing the assault will strain EU-Israel relations.
While the EU recognizes Israel's right to defend itself, "Israel must do so in line with International Humanitarian Law and provide safety to civilians," Borrell said.
Israel's allies, including its main backer the United States, have been warning Israel for weeks against a ground offensive into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had been sheltering from fighting elsewhere in the coastal strip.
The Israeli army advanced on Rafah from the east just over a week ago and has since also taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt.
On Tuesday, Israeli troops advanced deeper into Rafah, according to eyewitnesses in the overcrowded city.
