GAZA: The death toll in Gaza has reached 30,960, with the majority of casualties being women and children, as Israeli air and ground attacks continue unabated, the Gaza health ministry stated on Saturday. Over the past 24 hours alone, 82 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza. The health ministry stated that 72,524 people have been wounded in Gaza since October 7 when Israel launched a bombardment campaign in Gaza.
Salameh Maarouf, head of Gaza’s media office, lamented the dire situation faced by Palestinians in the territory, noting the increasing scarcity of shelter and food. He revealed that 80 percent of homes in Gaza have been rendered uninhabitable, leaving 120,000 families grappling with famine.
The ongoing conflict has prompted global concern, with Mirjana Spoljaric, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire. Spoljaric stressed the importance of both Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas adhering to international law to protect civilians caught in the crossfire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
A spokesperson for Gaza’s Hamas government welcomed the US proposal to construct a temporary port off Gaza’s coast for aid delivery. While viewing the initiative as a step in the right direction, he underscored the need for Israel to fully open all borders to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s population.
ICRC Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head Mirjana Spoljaric on Saturday said that the war in the besieged Gaza Strip has “ruptured any sense of a shared humanity”. She called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, saying Israel must respect international law and protect Palestinian civilians amidst their military operations.
Spoljaric emphasized the critical need for humanitarian aid to flow steadily into Gaza, where over 90 percent of the Palestinian population teeters on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations. She stressed that the alleviation of the humanitarian catastrophe requires a concerted effort to safeguard civilian lives and uphold human dignity.
“The only way to achieve this is that the parties strictly adhere to international humanitarian law,” Spoljaric stated, emphasizing the importance of preserving civilian life and health as the norm, not the exception.
The conflict, which has endured for five months, has resulted in devastating casualties and widespread suffering, particularly among Palestinian civilians. The ICRC highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire to facilitate the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s struggling population.
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless ground and air offensive that the health ministry in Gaza said has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinian people, mostly women and children. The UN says 2.2 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million people are on the verge of famine and desperately short of drinking water.
“As an occupying power, Israel must provide for the basic needs of the population or facilitate the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief,” the ICRC head said.
Additionally, the ICRC called upon the Palestinian resistance group Hamas to release hostages, ensure their safety and medical care, and permit ICRC access for monitoring. Likewise, they urged Israel to provide for the basic needs of the population under its occupation and allow ICRC visits to Palestinians detained by Israeli forces.
Spoljaric implored world leaders to prioritize respect for international law, emphasizing the imperative of humanitarian action in the face of profound suffering.
