US government’s criticism of Rafah offensive is ‘meaningless’
Tamer Qarmout, assistant professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, spoke to Al Jazeera about the nature of recent comments made by various US officials warning against an Israeli offensive on Rafah.
He said they are designed to “diffuse tensions” domestically, but in regards to Israel’s actions in Rafah, they are “meaningless”.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US President Joe Biden, who have both warned against a Rafah offensive, are simply “washing their hands” of an “ongoing massacre that has already started”, Qarmout said.
Instead of condemning or blaming Israel for not having a credible plan, the US administration is “buying more time” and does not have the “political will or even the operational or military will to stop the Israelis”, Qarmout added.
UNRWA says almost 360,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says nearly 360,000 people have now fled Gaza’s Rafah since Israel issued evacuation orders on May 6.
“There’s nowhere to go. There’s no safety without a ceasefire,” the agency said in a post on X.
UNRWA video shows extensive damage to its facilities in Khan Younis
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has shared a video on X showing families and children returning to UNRWA schools in Khan Younis.
The facilities show “extensive damage”, it said on X, with no water available in the city. “A new level of desperation, unfolding under the world’s watch.”
Gaza authorities say health system on the verge of collapse
The enclave’s Health Ministry says without fuel for hospital generators, the health system across Gaza could collapse in “a few hours”.
“A few hours separate us from the collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip as a result of the failure to bring in the fuel necessary to operate electricity generators in hospitals, ambulances, and transport employees,” the ministry said in a post on social media.
People flee as Israeli troops invade Jabalia refugee camp
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