(VOVWORLD) -President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday, where she stated that "people’s suffering is intolerable."
 Tents for Palestinian refugees in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza strip on October 19, 2023 (Photo: AFP/ VNA) |
On her official account on X, formerly Twitter, Egger repeated her urgent call for civilians to be protected and for aid to enter Gaza unimpeded. She also urged that the hostages be released and the ICRC allowed to visit them.
Germany urged Israel to guarantee realistic protection to civilians in the Gaza Strip, as Israel moved ground forces into southern Gaza. Foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a press briefing that too many civilians have already been killed in this conflict.
The WHO announced that it will hold an emergency meeting on the Gaza health situation on December 10 after having received a request from 15 countries to hold the session.
The Israeli army sent dozens of tanks into southern Gaza on Monday as part of an expanded action against Hamas despite global concerns over mounting civilian deaths and the risk of the conflict spreading in the Middle East.
 Israeli tanks move to the border of the Gaza strip on December 3 (Photo: AFP) |
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he rejects Israel's intention to "separate, occupy, cut off, or isolate any part of the Gaza Strip," which is "an integral part of the Palestinian state."
In a phone call with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, Abbas said civilians must be spared from the scourge of bombing and destruction. He urged that conditions be created to enable aid to reach Gaza.
Israel’s National Security Council updated travel warnings for dozens of countries due to its military operations in the Gaza Strip.