ICRC warns against massive displacement in Gaza, stresses humanitarian groups won’t be able to assist the displaced people

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that humanitarian groups will not be able to assist the massive displacement of people in Gaza. This came after the Israeli occupation on Friday asked the population in the northern half of Gaza Strip to relocate south of the strip within 24 hours.

“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.

People in Gaza have nothing, “nowhere safe to go and many, including the disabled, elderly, and sick, will not be able to leave their homes,” the ICRC underscored, pointing out 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.”

Yesterday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza Strip after the Israeli occupation forces asked more than a million Palestinians in the Strip to leave their homes to the south.

Borrell calls “Israel’s” displacement plan in Gaza “utterly impossible”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Saturday that a plan by Israel to displace more than one million people out of northern Gaza in a single day was “utterly impossible to implement”.

“I am saying that, representing the official position of the European Union… (the evacuation plan) is utterly, utterly impossible to implement,” Borrell told a press conference in Beijing on the final day of a three-day diplomatic visit to China, pointing out that the Gazans are without food, water or shelter and under siege.

“To imagine that you could move one million people in 24 hours in a situation like Gaza can only be a humanitarian crisis,” he added, AFP reported.

OIC rejects forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday expressed its absolute rejection and condemnation of Israel’s calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip, and attempts to transfer the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the Israeli occupation to neighboring countries, according to WAFA News Agency.

The OIC said in a statement that it also strongly condemns the blockade of medical, relief supplies, and basic necessities to Gaza Strip, considering this as collective punishment which is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The organization reiterated its call on the international community to urgently take effective measures to stop all forms of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, which threatens to lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

It emphasized the necessity of establishing humanitarian corridors to provide essential aid to the Gaza Strip.

Hamda Mustafa