In a rare public statement, The International Committee of the Red Cross said providing aid to people in Gaza would be impossible if it were to come under siege.
“Our teams will require pauses in the fighting to work safely and effectively,” the humanitarian group said.
“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.
“The needs are staggering, and humanitarian organisations must be able to increase aid operations.”
Gaza is already one of the most crowded places on earth, and for now there is no way out. Israel has imposed a total blockade, and Egypt, which also has a border with the enclave, has so far resisted calls to open it to fleeing residents.
Israel’s evacuation order applies to the northern half of the Gaza Strip, including the enclave’s biggest settlement Gaza City. The UN said it had been told that Israel wanted the area’s entire population – around half the 2.3 million Gazans – to move across the Gaza Wadi wetland that splits the strip.
“Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the Israeli military warned residents.
with Reuters