UN Warns: Incursion into Rafah Could Lead to "Massacre"

International officials warned today, Friday, about the potential consequences of Israeli forces carrying out their threat to invade Rafah, stating that such an operation could result in a "massacre." One official described the emergency plan regarding the operation as a "mere band-aid." Specifically, the spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that "the incursion into Rafah could be a 'massacre' and a massive blow to relief efforts across the Gaza Strip." Another official from the World Health Organization expressed deep concern that the incursion in Rafah could lead to the closure of the crossing used for entering medical supplies into Gaza. Meanwhile, the health organization stated that the emergency plan for the potential incursion in Rafah would be just a "band-aid." Another official from the organization noted today that the agency has prepared an emergency plan in case of an Israeli incursion into the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, but clarified that it would not be sufficient to prevent a significant increase in the death toll. Rick Peppercorn, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, said in a press conference in Geneva via video link, "I really want to say that this emergency plan is just a band-aid." He added that it "will not prevent the expected deaths and the spread of diseases resulting from the military operation."