GENEVA (Reuters) – The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Friday that humanitarian organisations would not be able to assist more than a million people in Gaza who Israel has given 24 hours to evacuate to the south of the enclave.
“With a military siege in place, humanitarian organisations including the ICRC will not be able to assist such a massive displacement of people in Gaza,” ICRC said in a statement.
“The needs are staggering, and humanitarian organisations must be able to increase aid operations.”
ICRC said Israel’s call for the population to relocate south in 24 hours – coupled with a blockade that denies them access to food, water, and electricity – was “not compatible with international humanitarian law”.
The ICRC’s office in Gaza City received instructions to relocate south, just like the population there.
“We are extremely concerned for our colleagues in Gaza and their families,” the ICRC statement said.
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; editing by Alex Richardson and Mark Heinrich)
