German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that an Israeli ground attack on the town of Rafah in southern Gaza "would be irresponsible" and could lead to massive civilian casualties, Reuters reported.

"We believe that an offensive on Rafah would be irresponsible. We warn against it," Scholz said at a broadcast organized by the German newspaper group RND.

"We do not believe that there is any approach that would not ultimately lead to the enormous loss of life among innocent civilians," Scholz said, adding that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite intense US pressure and alarm expressed by residents and humanitarian organizations, Israel said it would continue its incursion into Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced people have taken refuge since the start of the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

On Saturday, Israel called on Palestinians living in other neighborhoods of Rafah to evacuate and head to the so-called expanded humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi.