Gaza City Evacuation ‘Unfeasible,’ Says Red Cross as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Red Cross Warns Against Evacuation of Gaza City

The head of the International Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, has warned that a mass evacuation of Gaza City would be unsafe, unfeasible, and undignified under the current conditions. She stressed that it is impossible to guarantee the safety of civilians if such an order is carried out while the war continues.

Israel’s Ongoing Military Offensive

Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to take full control of the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City, in a campaign aimed at destroying Hamas. The offensive comes as the war nears 23 months, alongside a growing international outcry over starvation, lack of medicine, and worsening humanitarian conditions in the besieged enclave.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Spoljaric explained that a mass movement of people would trigger a crisis that other areas in Gaza cannot handle due to severe shortages of food, shelter, and medical supplies. Many residents of Gaza City are already starving, sick, or injured, making it impossible for them to leave.

She stated:

“Any evacuation under the current conditions cannot be safe or dignified. It is both unrealistic and incomprehensible given the humanitarian situation.”

Israel’s Position

The Israeli military said it will “continue supporting humanitarian efforts alongside ongoing operations against terrorist organizations in Gaza, in order to protect the State of Israel.”
Israel has repeatedly urged civilians to move south, but humanitarian groups argue that conditions there are equally dire.

International Law Obligations

Under international humanitarian law, Israel must ensure civilians have shelter, food, safety, and medical access if they are ordered to evacuate. Currently, these conditions are not being met in Gaza, making an evacuation impossible without risking thousands of lives.

War Toll Since 2023

• The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

• Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 63,000 people, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials.