Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the Red Cross, has warned that under Israel’s intense military operations, safely evacuating civilians from Gaza City is currently impossible.
Speaking on Saturday, Spoljaric highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly two years of conflict and blockade have caused extreme food shortages and limited access to medical care and shelter. “A mass evacuation under these conditions would displace a population that other areas of Gaza cannot accommodate,” she said.
According to Reuters, Israel is advancing plans to take full control of Gaza City, urging residents to move south while claiming its military operations target terrorist groups and will continue to support humanitarian aid.
Spoljaric stressed that many residents are hungry, sick, or injured and cannot comply with evacuation orders. She said, “Under international humanitarian law, Israel must ensure shelter, safety, and food for civilians before issuing evacuation directives. None of these conditions can be met now, making such a mass evacuation both unrealistic and unacceptable.”
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, more than 63,000 people—mostly civilians—have reportedly died in Israeli military operations, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Source: Reuters.