New York (ICRC) – The scale of human suffering and the deprivation of human dignity in Gaza has long surpassed all legal and moral acceptance standards.
The following in the statement text:
Every minute without a ceasefire, puts civilian lives at risk. The level of suffering given to civilians due to indiscriminate wars and the extreme deprivation of essentials for survival is abominable.
People are mercilessly killed in hostilities and are trying to get food. Children are almost dying because they are not enough to eat. Families are forced to run away over and over again in search of non-existent safety. The ICRC has over 350 staff on the ground in Gaza. Many of them struggle to find enough food and clean water.
This tragedy must end soon and decisively. Any political hesitation, every attempt to justify the fear under the international clock, will forever be judged as a collective failure to sustain humanity in war.
States must support their obligation to respect and respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL) under the Geneva Convention, including ensuring that they do not contribute to the violation of IHL.
States must do more to ensure that parties to the conflict fulfill their obligations under the IHL. This means resuming impartial relief, unhindered and impartial relief across Gaza. This means that all remaining hostages will be released unconditionally soon. This means that the ICRC will be able to resume visits to Palestinian detainees in Israeli detentions.
Life must be saved in Gaza. This is possible with political courage to respect the rules of war and the protection they offer to civilians.