The Humanitarian Crisis
The onset of renewed hostilities in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Today famine is looming, clean water is scarce, and the healthcare system has all but collapsed. Children, women and those with a disability are disproportionally suffering.
Humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip does not match the needs of the civilian population. Since May 2024, only one of two major crossings into the Gaza Strip has been open. Insecurity and the lack of access means vital humanitarian aid cannot be delivered to where it is acutely needed. According to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an estimated 1.9 million people in the Gaza Strip - around 90% of the total population - have been displaced, often multiple times and often resulting in family separation. Only 17 of 36 hospitals are currently partially functional.
Casualties and injuries arising from the conflict, particularly for children, are increasing.
In the West Bank, the security and economic situation is worsening and the humanitarian needs are rising; violence and restrictions on movement and essential services have crippled the economy. Increased violence across the Middle East, particularly in southern Lebanon and northern Israel, has led to internal displacement and migration, worsening the regional humanitarian situation.
Since October 2023, the Movement has lost 26 dedicated humanitarian workers in this conflict. Twenty staff members and volunteers of the PRCS and six from MDA have been killed. These deaths are devastating and unacceptable. Humanitarian workers should always be protected. We pay homage to their service and sacrifice, including through our In memoriam page.
Calling for the release of hostages and access to people detained
The taking of hostages is strictly prohibited under IHL and ICRC and the Movement continue to call for the immediate and safe release of all hostages. The ICRC has continuously requested information on the hostages and their current health condition.
IHL also protects persons deprived of their liberty. As part of its general humanitarian mandate, ICRC is also responsible for visiting people deprived of their liberty in times of war and regularly facilitates releases and transfers of people detained in conflicts all over the world. ICRC continues to work with Israeli authorities to resume the ICRC’s visits to Israeli detention centres which have been suspended since 7 October 2023, along with its Family Visit Program.
The ICRC has a mandate under IHL to act as a neutral intermediary, and seeks dialogue with all the actors involved in a situation of armed conflict or internal violence as well as with the civilian population to gain their acceptance and respect.
The ICRC is engaging the relevant authorities on this critical matter in its usual bilateral and confidential dialogue. The ICRC stands prepared to resume its regular detention visits at the earliest opportunity to continue, among other things, the monitoring of the treatment of detainees and the conditions of detention in all relevant facilities. This remains a priority for the ICRC in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Acting as a neutral intermediary, ICRC has facilitated the release of 109 hostages from the Gaza strip and the release of 154 Palestinian detainees from Israeli places of detention, and transferred them home under ICRC’s auspices. The ICRC stands ready to facilitate the release of all remaining hostages.
