TEHRAN, February 13 (MNA) –  Venezuela on Monday strongly condemned the Israel regime's offensive's advance towards Rafah, a town in the south of Gaza that shelters 1.4 million displaced Palestinians."We warn that these cruel and inhumane actions contribute to worsening the consequences and conditions of deterioration experienced by the population in the Gaza Strip and prevent access to essential humanitarian aid for survival," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Israel intends to continue its "expansionist" policy in Rafah despite the displaced Palestinians, the government said, demanding respect for international law "as a guarantee of global peace." Venezuela called on the United Nations and the international community "to make urgent decisions" to prevent Israel from continuing its "catastrophic" policy.

It also expressed its willingness to "continue supporting the initiatives to achieve a definitive ceasefire and the international recognition of Palestine as a free and sovereign nation." At least 28,176 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's offensive that began in October 2023.

MNA/PR