The United Nations warned on Friday that the ground operation that Israel is planning to launch on the city of Rafah will have dire consequences for the residents of the Gaza Strip and for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

This came in a statement by United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric to reporters, commenting on news about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval of plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, despite international warnings.

Dujarric indicated that he had seen the news regarding Netanyahu’s approval of the operation, and said that this was “very disturbing.”

He added, "The ground operation on Rafah will have serious consequences for the residents of Gaza and for humanitarian aid operations," expressing his hope that it will be prevented from happening.