Beyza Binnur Donmez
13 October 2023•Update: 14 October 2023
GENEVA
As Israel called on Friday all civilians in the northern half of the Gaza Strip to relocate south within 24 hours, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) warned that humanitarian groups will not be able to assist the massive displacement.
"The instructions issued by the Israeli authorities for the population of Gaza City to immediately leave their homes, coupled with the complete siege explicitly denying them food, water, and electricity, are not compatible with international humanitarian law," the ICRC said in a statement.
"When military powers order people to leave their homes, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the population has access to basic necessities like food and water and that members of the same family are not separated, the aid group said.
Nothing that people in Gaza have "nowhere safe to go and many, including the disabled, elderly, and sick, will not be able to leave their homes," the ICRC underscored that it is "impossible" for Gazans to know which areas will next face attack.
"With a military siege in place, humanitarian organizations including the ICRC will not be able to assist such a massive displacement of people in Gaza," it said. "The needs are staggering, and humanitarian organizations must be able to increase aid operations."
It added that "nothing can justify" the attacks Israel suffered last weekend "but those attacks cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza."
