UN warns Israel: Rafah invasion could 'lead to slaughter'
The United Nations on Tuesday warned against an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, saying an offensive could 'lead to a slaughter' in the southern region of the Palestinian enclave where more than 1 million people are sheltering.
Israel says it wants to flush out Hamas fighters from hideouts in Rafah and free Israeli hostages being held there, and is making plans to evacuate trapped Palestinian civilians.