America proposed a draft UN resolution warning Israel against attacking Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The resolution calls for a temporary ceasefire to prevent further displacement and harm to civilians, per Bloomberg.
Rafah’s population has surged from 250,000 to over 1 million due to Palestinians seeking refuge from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The UN fears an invasion would be catastrophic.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu signals a full-scale invasion of Gaza, despite calls for civilian safety measures from President Joe Biden and European leaders.
The US, holding council veto power, may block Algeria’s push for an immediate ceasefire to safeguard ongoing negotiations with Egypt, Israel and Qatar to broker peace.
Israel has been at war with Hamas since October 7, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The war has contracted Israel’s GDP by nearly 20% on an annualized basis in the final quarter of 2023.