Pressure mounts on Israel to spare Rafah

Calls grow for ending 'hell on earth' as Arab states reaffirm commitment

The international community and humanitarian agencies have warned Israel not to attack Rafah, but to end "hell on earth" and prevent a looming "man-made famine "in Gaza, as several Arab countries reaffirmed their commitment to the Palestinian people.

On March 24, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, shared on social media that the "main lifeline" for Palestinian refugees was "denied from providing lifesaving assistance to northern Gaza".

"Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any UNRWA food convoys to the north. This is outrageous and makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine. These restrictions must be lifted," Lazzarini wrote on X.