"UN Warns of Potential Slaughter in Rafah as Israel Considers Ground Offensive"

The United Nations has warned against an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, stating that it could result in a "slaughter" in the region where over 1 million people are sheltering. Israel aims to flush out Hamas militants and free hostages, but the UN aid chief emphasized the lack of safety guarantees and capacity to sustain the humanitarian operation. International talks for a Gaza truce have not yielded a breakthrough, with calls growing for Israel to refrain from the planned assault. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope for successful negotiations to avoid devastating consequences, as the humanitarian response in Rafah is described as being in tatters.