During a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that only the United States could stop Israel attacking the border city of Rafah in Gaza.
Abbas added that the Israeli assault, which he expects within days, could force much of the Palestinian population to flee the enclave which he said could lead to the biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people’s history.
Israel, which has threatened for weeks to launch an all-out assault on the neighbourhood saying its goal is to destroy Hamas’ remaining battalions there, stepped up airstrikes on Rafah last week.
Abbas reiterated that he rejects the displacement of Palestinians into Jordan and Egypt and said he is concerned that once Israel completes its operations in Gaza, it will then attempt to force the Palestinian population out of the West Bank and into Jordan.
Since Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, in which Israel said 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry, and most of the population displaced.
