Prospect of full-on Israeli incursion into Rafah ‘terrifying’: UN human rights chief

“People have been just moved from one place to the other,” Lazzarini said.

“Each time they were told to go to a given place, saying: ‘This will be a safer place.’ It has been proven that the place was not safe.

“So to go where? I don’t know,” he said.

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The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor on Monday voiced deep concern about a possible Israeli ground offensive into Rafah, warning that anyone breaching international law would be held accountable.

Karim Khan said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, that his office’s investigation into events in Gaza is “being taken forward as a matter of the utmost urgency”.

“I am deeply concerned by the reported bombardment and potential ground incursion by Israeli forces in Rafah,” he said.

The ICC opened an investigation in 2021 into Israel as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

Khan has previously said this investigation now “extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on October 7, 2023”.

“All wars have rules and the laws applicable to armed conflict cannot be interpreted so as to render them hollow or devoid of meaning,” Khan said.

“This has been my consistent message, including from Ramallah last year. Since that time, I have not seen any discernible change in conduct by Israel,” he said.

Opening its doors in 2002, the ICC is the world’s only independent court set up to investigate the gravest offences including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It is a “court of last resort” and only steps in if countries are unwilling or unable to investigate cases themselves.

“As I have repeatedly emphasised, those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my office takes action pursuant to its mandate,” warned Khan.

“To all those involved: my office is actively investigating any crimes allegedly committed. Those who are in breach of the law will be held accountable.”

Khan called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

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In Germany, head of the conservative opposition Friedrich Merz backed Israel’s military action against Hamas in Gaza and Rafah during a visit to Israel.

“In my opinion, the Israeli government and the Israeli army are doing everything they can to protect the civilian population there,” he said on Monday after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

The civilian population is being used by Hamas as a shield to make the fight against terrorism more difficult, Merz said.

“In this respect, it is now also up to Hamas to ensure that there are no more civilian casualties,” Merz said.

Merz, who leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary faction, had initially congratulated Netanyahu on the release of two more hostages last night.

“That is a good sign,” he said. However, many hostages were still being held by the terrorists, he added.

“It is important that the Israeli army and the Israeli government are now successful in really destroying Hamas,” Merz said. “And they are on this path.”

Merz said he also spoke to Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation of the people in Gaza.

The Palestinian civilian population is being warned of military operations and urged by telephone and leaflet to leave those areas where military action is taking place, said Merz. “But it is also true that there are civilian casualties. There will also continue to be civilian casualties.”

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Merz also plans to talk to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, opposition leader Yair Lapid and opposition politician Benny Gantz.

Gantz, a former defence minister, is a member of the Israeli war cabinet. Merz also plans to visit a hospital.

This is the first visit by Merz since the October 7 attack. He is being accompanied by the conservative deputy parliamentary group leaders Johann Wadephul and Jens Spahn as well as the deputy chairwoman of the German-Israeli parliamentary group, Gitta Connemann, also a CDU member.

The talks come after Netanyahu announced on Friday an offensive in Rafah.

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US President Joe Biden and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock are among those who have warned against a Rafah offensive because of the potentially massive civilian casualties.

Netanyahu said on Sunday on US television that the Israeli army is preparing a “safe corridor” for Rafah civilians to be evacuated.

More than 28,000 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli air strikes and a ground invasion since October 7, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry. Tens of thousands more have reportedly been injured.

Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel in a terrorist attack and took around 240 people hostage.

Additional reporting by dpa