Red Cross Warns Mass Gaza City Evacuation is 'Impossible'

The Red Cross warns that a mass evacuation of Gaza City is 'impossible,' as it would cause a population displacement that no area in the Gaza Strip can absorb.

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, denounced the Israeli plans, stressing that they are 'impossible' to implement safely and with dignity.

The Israeli army declared Gaza City a 'dangerous combat zone,' preparing for a large-scale offensive. Although evacuation was not explicitly requested, a spokesperson called it 'inevitable'.

Mirjana Spoljaric stressed that many civilians will not be able to obey an evacuation order due to hunger, illness and injuries. She also noted that Israel must ensure adequate housing, hygiene, safety and access to food for civilians, which is not currently the case in Gaza.

According to UN estimates, approximately 1 million Palestinians are in Gaza City. Thousands of residents have already fled the city, following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.