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The UN's humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has expressed grave concern over a potential Israeli assault on the city of Rafah in Gaza, warning that it could lead to a "slaughter." He described the ongoing assault on Palestinians in Gaza as unprecedented in its intensity, brutality, and scale. Griffiths emphasized that the consequences of an invasion of Rafah would be catastrophic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas militants believed to be hiding in the city. Griffiths, in an unusually strong statement, stated that over a million people in Rafah were facing imminent danger and had limited access to food, medicine, and safe havens. He warned that an Israeli invasion of the city would further jeopardize the already fragile humanitarian efforts in the region. The United Nations, through its spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, made it clear that it would not support or participate in any forced evacuation plans from Rafah proposed by Israel. Rafah, a small city in the southern Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, was home to around 250,000 people before the conflict. However, the evacuation orders from Israel have caused the population to surge to an estimated 1.5 million, with many living in dire conditions and lacking alternatives. Recent days have seen heavy Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, resulting in significant casualties. Griffiths also highlighted the violence faced by humanitarian workers operating in Gaza, with reports of shootings, attacks, and killings due to the breakdown in law and order. Meanwhile, negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Cairo. Senior officials from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar have met to discuss the situation, as the international community increases pressure on Israel to refrain from invading Rafah. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that these talks would succeed in order to avert an attack on the city. US President Joe Biden has called for the protection of civilians, while UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has urged Israel to carefully consider the consequences before moving forward with an assault. It is crucial to note that the conflict between Israel and Hamas on 7 October last year resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people in Israel due to attacks by Hamas militants. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The war has caused immense casualties, with more than 28,400 Palestinians, including a large number of women and children, killed, and over 68,000 injured, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.