The foreign ministers of 13 countries warned in a letter that Israel should not launch a large-scale military offensive in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, reported today published by the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung", cited by DPA and BTA.
The signatories of the letter also demand more aid for the Palestinian population, the newspaper adds.
The four-page letter dated May 15, addressed to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, was signed by all G7 countries except the United States. In it, the ministers emphasize Israel's right to self-defense and condemn the terrorist attacks of "Hamas" and other Islamist groups on October 7 last year.
In addition, they call on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do everything in its power to alleviate the devastating and deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. According to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" they also call on Israel to open all border crossings to the Palestinian enclave for the delivery of aid, including the "Rafah" on the border with Egypt.
Just over a week ago, the Israeli army advanced from the east towards Rafah despite strong international warnings. Since then, the army also controls the Palestinian part of the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, and the crossing is closed to humanitarian aid. Israel and Egypt blame each other for this.
The letter was signed by the foreign ministers of the G-7 countries - Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada, as well as by their colleagues from Australia, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea and Sweden.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced the deployment of additional troops to Rafah yesterday. According to the Israeli military, hundreds of targets have already been hit there and several tunnels have been destroyed. According to the UN, about 600,000 people have already fled the city of Rafah.