LONDON: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an alarming level, described by the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, as “worse than hell on earth.” In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Spoljaric lamented the global failure to address the conditions in the region, stating, “We cannot continue to watch what is happening.”

The ICRC, which has approximately 300 personnel operating within Gaza, is actively involved in providing aid in an area severely affected by conflict.

The organization manages a field hospital in Rafah that has recently been overwhelmed with casualties as reports emerge of Israeli troops firing upon crowds attempting to access food aid.

Spoljaric characterized the situation in Gaza as surpassing any acceptable legal, moral, and humane standard, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis.

She expressed that the ongoing deprivation of human dignity experienced by the people of Gaza should be a matter of deep concern for the international community.

In the context of Israel's military campaign, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 individuals since October 2023—predominantly women and children—Spoljaric underlined the inherent right of any state to self-defense.

However, she also asserted that such rights do not justify limiting children's access to essential resources, such as food, health care, and security.

Spoljaric's comments follow an escalation of military actions by Israel in response to a Hamas-led attack that resulted in 1,200 Israeli casualties and numerous hostages taken.

The humanitarian response has been constrained, particularly after Israel implemented measures that halted the flow of food and aid to the densely populated territory.

The past weeks have seen mounting international criticism directed at Israel, particularly as its military operations escalate.

This scrutiny intensified following Israel’s efforts to gain complete control over Gaza, which included cutting off all aid supplies to the population.

In a development last month, some humanitarian aid deliveries resumed after Israel established a new framework for logistics that bypassed the United Nations, with oversight transitioning to a newly formed United States organization.

However, operations at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid delivery sites were disrupted on Wednesday after violence erupted, resulting in multiple fatalities from gunfire near one of the locations.