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Red Cross Chief Slams Global Inaction Over Gaza Crisis
In a heartbreaking and urgent plea, Mirjana Spoljaric, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has condemned the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Speaking to the BBC, she said that what is happening in the region has gone far beyond legal, moral, and human limits.
In a heartbreaking and urgent plea, Mirjana Spoljaric, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has condemned the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Speaking to the BBC, she said that what is happening in the region has gone far beyond legal, moral, and human limits.
“It’s becoming unbearable to watch the suffering of the people in Gaza,” she said. “The situation has crossed every line of what’s acceptable—legally, morally, and humanely.”
“Worse Than Hell”
Just a few weeks ago, Spoljaric had called Gaza “hell on Earth” during her visit to the war-torn strip. But in her latest interview, she admitted that the situation has only worsened since then. “Gaza has become worse than hell,” she said bluntly.
Describing the horrors, she painted a grim picture of the suffering: people falling sick, widespread hunger, children crying from starvation, and bodies piling up in the streets.
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“We cannot continue to watch what is happening in Gaza,” she stressed. “We can no longer watch the level of suffering and destruction. The fact that we are watching a people being entirely stripped of its human dignity should really shock our collective conscience.”
A Dire Warning to World Leaders
Spoljaric also strongly criticized the global community for failing to act. She said the extreme violence and destruction in Gaza were “a consequence of the whole world (silently) watching a type of warfare that shows utmost disrespect for civilians—that deprives civilians of their dignity entirely.”
She made a direct appeal to Israeli leaders and international governments: “Today we are in it, today we can reverse it… we can save lives today. That’s why it is important to act now. State leaders are under an obligation to act.”
Then came a haunting warning: “I am calling on them to do something… to do more… to do whatever they can, because it will reverberate. It will haunt them. It will (someday) reach their doorsteps.”
On Israel’s “Self-Defence” Claim
When asked by the BBC about Israel’s repeated claims that its actions in Gaza are acts of self-defence, Spoljaric responded with clarity and compassion. “Every State has a right to defend itself, and every mother has the right to see her children return home. There is no excuse for hostage-taking, but there is also no excuse for depriving children from their access to food, health, and security.”
She added, “There are rules in the conduct of hostilities that every party to every conflict must respect.”
Famine, Hunger and Children at Risk
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not only marked by violence but by hunger and disease. According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, “The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing.”
The report highlighted that all 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing serious food shortages, and nearly 500,000 are already in catastrophic conditions—battling starvation, acute malnutrition, and disease.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, had earlier warned, “We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border.”
While Israel has said it has eased some of its blockade over Gaza, reports from the ground say that essential supplies are still not reaching the people. Children are seen rummaging through rubble and garbage in search of something—anything—to eat.
“If the situation persists, nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next eleven months,” the WHO noted.
Red Cross Workers Struggling Amid Chaos
The Red Cross, known globally for its work in conflict zones, has over 300 staff in Gaza—most of whom are Palestinians. As the official guardian of the Geneva Conventions, the Red Cross has the mandate to protect civilians during war.
But Spoljaric admitted that even for experienced humanitarian workers, the crisis in Gaza is overwhelming and unprecedented.
Background of the War
The current war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, carried out a large-scale attack inside Israel. Over 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken. It was the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
In retaliation, Israel launched a full-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, vowing to destroy the group completely. Since then, Israel has claimed the lives of several high-ranking Hamas leaders. The war has now dragged on for 20 months, with over 56,000 Palestinians reportedly killed.
While Israel says its actions are necessary and defensive, many international leaders and organizations have criticized its response as excessive and disproportionate.
Calls for Accountability and Urgency
The Red Cross chief made it clear that regardless of the reasons behind the war, the suffering of civilians cannot be justified. Starvation, disease, and displacement, she said, are unacceptable under any circumstance.
She also expressed deep concern over Israel’s current approach. “Victory at all costs,” she warned, “especially at a time like this, is deeply concerning.”
In her closing remarks, Spoljaric didn’t just appeal to politicians—she appealed to humanity.
“Doing nothing now,” she said, “is a choice. And it’s a choice that history will not forget.”