In an interview from Geneva, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric emphasized the deepening despair experienced by the people trapped in this conflict. She highlighted that the current situation exceeds all acceptable standards of legality, morality, and humanity, indicating that the ongoing war has manifested in extreme levels of destruction and suffering.
"This is a moment where humanity is failing; we simply cannot continue to observe this level of chaos," Spoljaric urged, reflecting on the strife faced by Palestinian civilians and the dire threat to their human dignity. With more than 54,607 lives lost in Gaza since the latest round of violence began, including thousands of innocent children, she made a passionate plea for international intervention to end the carnage and restore basic human rights.
Spoljaric remarked that while nations have a right to self-defense, there is also a universal obligation to protect non-combatants in conflicts as stated in the Geneva Conventions. "A child in Gaza deserves the same protections as a child in Israel," she noted, critiquing any justification for the violence that violates humanitarian law. While the ICRC acknowledges the horrors experienced due to Hamas's attacks, it insists that violence against innocents cannot be the answer.
The organization has been steadfast in reporting and providing medical care in Gaza despite the severe risks, with reports of daily casualties overwhelming their facilities. Recently, their surgical teams encountered unprecedented numbers of patients following a chaotic food distribution near the active conflict zone, which Spoljaric labeled as "total carnage."
In light of the grim circumstances and ever-looming threats to both humanitarian staff and civilians, Spoljaric has urged world leaders to recognize their responsibilities. "It is still possible to change the course of events, to preserve a pathway back to peace. But time is running out," she insisted, calling for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis that is expanding beyond Gaza and threatening global stability.
"This is a moment where humanity is failing; we simply cannot continue to observe this level of chaos," Spoljaric urged, reflecting on the strife faced by Palestinian civilians and the dire threat to their human dignity. With more than 54,607 lives lost in Gaza since the latest round of violence began, including thousands of innocent children, she made a passionate plea for international intervention to end the carnage and restore basic human rights.
Spoljaric remarked that while nations have a right to self-defense, there is also a universal obligation to protect non-combatants in conflicts as stated in the Geneva Conventions. "A child in Gaza deserves the same protections as a child in Israel," she noted, critiquing any justification for the violence that violates humanitarian law. While the ICRC acknowledges the horrors experienced due to Hamas's attacks, it insists that violence against innocents cannot be the answer.
The organization has been steadfast in reporting and providing medical care in Gaza despite the severe risks, with reports of daily casualties overwhelming their facilities. Recently, their surgical teams encountered unprecedented numbers of patients following a chaotic food distribution near the active conflict zone, which Spoljaric labeled as "total carnage."
In light of the grim circumstances and ever-looming threats to both humanitarian staff and civilians, Spoljaric has urged world leaders to recognize their responsibilities. "It is still possible to change the course of events, to preserve a pathway back to peace. But time is running out," she insisted, calling for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis that is expanding beyond Gaza and threatening global stability.
