Gazans couldn't leave even if they want to: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) — People in the Gaza Strip could not leave even if they want to, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Asked about how Gaza's 2.3 million residents, under blockade since 2007, could respond to an Israeli call for them to leave the small enclave amid days of heavy bombardment, IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa said there were no exits available.

"As always, we advocate for the protection of people who decide freely to move," Longa said, underlining: "The problem at the moment is that the Gaza Strip is sealed."

"So even if people want to move, they cannot move — a reason more to call on parties to protect civilians," he added.

On the possibility of a mass exodus in which Gazans would be forced to leave and be barred from returning, he said the IFRC "do not want to speculate on possible long-term consequences such as the impact on refugees and migration flows."

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of people displaced across Gaza has now topped 263,000, an increase of 40%, since Tuesday.

Pointing to the killing of five IFRC network members, Longa said this was a "stark reminder of the importance of our call on all parties to respect and protect civilians and healthcare workers."

"This is our priority at the moment," he added.

In an earlier statement, the IFRC said four Palestine Red Crescent paramedics had been killed after their ambulances were hit in two separate incidents while they were helping those in need.

Also, the driver of a Magen David Adom, or Red Star of David, ambulance in Israel was killed on Saturday while transporting an injured person, it added.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began early on Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel — a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers' growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.