Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza City: Evacuations Called Unfeasible Amid Conflict Escalation

Israel has urged Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City, a move that has drawn sharply critical responses from humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Amid an expanding military offensive that has faced international condemnation, Israeli officials have indicated their intent to slow or halt the entry of aid into northern Gaza, raising concerns over the already dire humanitarian situation. The situation escalated over the weekend when Israel declared Gaza City a combat zone. Israeli forces claimed that a vast network of tunnels utilized by Hamas remains operational, despite numerous prior military operations conducted in the area throughout the nearly two-year offensive. Reports from local hospitals indicated that as many as 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday alone, with 26 casualties occurring in Gaza City. The toll continues to rise as the conflict intensifies. In response to the Israeli call for evacuation, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric stated emphatically that a mass evacuation from Gaza City was not only unfeasible but also incomprehensible. She elaborated that such a large-scale movement of people would lead to a humanitarian disaster, given the already destroyed civilian infrastructure combined with critical shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical aid. Local media reports suggest that Israel’s security officials recognize the logistical challenges in executing this evacuation, stating it has been progressing slower than anticipated. Spoljaric has insisted that regardless of whether civilians choose to evacuate or not, their protection under international humanitarian law must be ensured, and they should have the right to return home safely. In light of the escalating conflict, aid organizations fear that forcing civilians to flee could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. The most recent assessments from food crisis authorities have exposed that Gaza City is experiencing famine conditions, with half a million residents facing catastrophic levels of hunger. On the previous Thursday, the UN reported that approximately 23,000 people had evacuated over the course of the week, with many experiencing multiple displacements. As scenes unfold showing families struggling to flee the ongoing violence—such as a three-year-old toddler, who was photographed sleeping in a horse-drawn cart—residents in Gaza City express their despair, often stating that there is simply ‘nowhere safe to go’. The unfolding humanitarian catastrophe has created a pressing need for immediate international attention to alleviate the suffering of those caught in this entrenched conflict. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2