GAZA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- An official from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Thursday that the situation in the Gaza Strip is "catastrophic," with residents facing death, destruction and immense suffering.
"It is essential that the ceasefire agreement holds after this phase ends, that humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza, and that international humanitarian law is respected so that the population can try to rebuild their lives with dignity," Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said in a press statement.
Lerisson stressed that reopening the Rafah crossing is critical for meeting urgent population needs and enabling the entry of specialized materials for infrastructure repair and the dignified recovery of bodies.
He noted that thousands of families await news of missing relatives, many believed trapped under rubble, while numerous others struggle to identify loved ones due to limited forensic capacity.
"There is still much work to be done, and no single entity can undertake this task alone," Lerisson said.
Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said Thursday that Hamas "has never agreed to surrender the weapons of the resistance in any form."
"Any arrangements concerning the Gaza Strip must be made in agreement with Hamas," Abu Marzouk said in a brief statement.
The remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that it "looks like" Hamas will disarm.
The U.S. administration in January announced the launch of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan. It includes a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas has taken a hard stance on the issue. In December, its Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya said the group would relinquish its weapons "if the (Israeli) occupation ends." ■
