GAZA CITY: The UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) issued an urgent call, demanding Israeli Authorities to safeguard innocent Palestinian civilians taking refuge in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes, as the Israeli-imposed deadline for 1.1 million civilians to leave the northern part of the enclave expired, signaling a possible major advance by Israeli ground forces.
UNRWA stated that their shelters in Gaza and northern Gaza were no longer safe, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the situation. The agency reminded that under the rules of warfare, civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics, and UN premises cannot be targeted.
In a strongly-worded statement, UNRWA highlighted the vulnerability of certain groups, including pregnant women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, who have no means to flee south. The agency emphasized the urgent need for these individuals to be protected at all times.
WHO Condemns Israel’s Order for Evacuation of Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned Israel’s repeated order for 22 hospitals in northern Gaza to be evacuated, terming it a “death sentence” for the sick and injured. The WHO stressed that forcing more than 2,000 patients to relocate to southern Gaza could result in a humanitarian catastrophe, endangering the lives of those in intensive care, newborns in incubators, and patients needing life support.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to facilitate medical aid across the border into Gaza. The supplies, including trauma medicines and healthcare essentials, aim to assist around 1,200 injured individuals and 1,500 chronically ill patients. Additionally, basic health supplies will meet the needs of 300,000 others, including pregnant women.
Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis, emphasizing the critical need to protect civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He called for Israel to safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers.
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UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned of the grave danger of “mass ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, urging urgent international intervention and mediation for a ceasefire. Albanese emphasized the urgent need for peace, equality of rights, dignity, and freedom for Palestinians.
