GAZA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Wednesday that Israel's escalation of military operations in Gaza risks worsening the already dire humanitarian situation and endangering the lives of captives held in the enclave.
"Any further escalation in military operations will only deepen the suffering, tear more families apart, and threaten an irreversible humanitarian crisis," said Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
He said civilians in Gaza are living in "abhorrent conditions," with more than 80 percent of the territory already covered by evacuation orders. "It is unimaginable that civilians could be compelled to move to an even smaller area," Lerisson added, warning that large-scale evacuations under current conditions would pose additional risks.
The ICRC stressed that international humanitarian law guarantees the protection of civilians whether they flee or remain, and urged all parties to take "constant care" to avoid civilian harm during military operations.
"After months of relentless hostilities and repeated displacement, the people in Gaza are utterly exhausted. What they need is not more pressure, but relief. Not more fear, but a chance to breathe," Lerisson said, calling for safe access to food, medicine, clean water, and shelter, and for unimpeded humanitarian access across the strip.
The Israeli military said it began calling up 60,000 reservists on Wednesday ahead of a planned offensive to seize Gaza City and displace its population. Another 20,000 would be summoned in the coming days, bringing the total to 110,000-130,000 in three phases, an army spokesperson said. ■
