Hospitals in Gaza risk 'turning into morgues', says ICRC

Humanitarian group is asking for security assurances to distribute fuel, food and medical supplies

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  At UN headquarters in New York City, Rachel Zeitchik, right, and Jay Zeitchik attend an event for families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. AFP

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  Palestinians flee from northern Gaza towards the south after the Israeli army demanded the population of more than a million people leave before a ground invasion. AP

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  Demonstrators at a rally in support of Palestine face a counter-demonstration in support of Israel near Times Square in New York. EPA

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  Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. AP

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  An injured man is rescued from the rubble of a building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP

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  Mourners take cover as sirens sound during the funeral of Tom Godo, killed during the attack by Hamas militants on the Kibbutz Kisuffim last week, in Kibbutz Naan near Tel Aviv. AFP

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  A Palestinian man flashes the victory sign as he and others leave northern Gaza before an expected Israeli ground offensive. AFP

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  Palestinians head south with their belongings after being ordered by Israel to leave northern Gaza on Friday. AFP

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  Israel ordered more than a million Palestinians to head south within 24 hours. Reuters

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  The UN criticised the directive, saying forcing such a large number of people to flee en masse would be catastrophic. Reuters

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  Gazans have to travel about 15km if they live in the northernmost part of the strip to reach the area south of the Wadi Gaza. Reuters

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  The UN said that more than 423,000 people have already fled their homes in the territory, with a sizeable number making the more than 10km journey on foot. Reuters

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  Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City. AFP

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  An Armoured Personnel Carrier drives near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Reuters

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  Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for mass Friday prayer during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

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  A Palestinian woman waits to cross into Jerusalem's Old City through Damascus Gate next to Israeli soldiers. AFP

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  Israeli army infantry fighting vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP

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  Israeli soldiers detain a man while on patrol near Kibbutz Beeri, near the Gaza Strip. AFP

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  Students hold in a rally in support of Palestine at Columbia University in New York. Getty Images

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  Family and friends mourn Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Palestinian militants at Kibbutz Beeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images

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  A ball of fire erupts in Gaza city after an Israeli air strike. AFP

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  Palestinians inspect the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli air strike at Al Shati refugee camp. AP

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  A fireball erupts from an Israeli air strike in Gaza city. AFP

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  People waiting for news of victims outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. AFP

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  A girl mourns the death of members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

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  Israelis arrive to sign up at a weapons distribution point for people allowed to carry arms, at the Ayyelet HaShahar Kibbutz in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border. AFP

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  Mourners outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for a sixth consecutive day. AFP

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  Men dig graves to bury members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis. Reuters

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  Palestinian children who fled their homes during Israeli strikes, play at a United Nations-run school in Gaza City. Reuters

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  Israeli soldiers near a self-propelled howitzer near the border with Gaza in southern Israel. AFP

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  Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

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  Palestinian children in a makeshift shelter at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Reuters

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  Boxes of humanitarian aid and supplies from Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation destined for Gaza, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters

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  Palestinians outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on the sixth day of fighting between Israel and Hamas. AFP

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  A pro-Israel vigil in Montevideo, Uruguay. EPA

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With fuel to run generators running out, hospitals in the Gaza Strip run the risk of "turning into morgues", the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday, as the war with Israel entered its sixth day.

Israel on Monday declared a “total blockade” of Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas, which rules the territory. Hamas launched thousands of rockets and sent hundreds of fighters into southern Israel on Saturday.

Since then, Israel has cut off electricity and water supply to Gaza, and stopped the entry of food and fuel, forcing the tiny enclave's only power plant to shut down on Wednesday.

“Our understanding is that there is still fuel – but probably only for a few hours – to allow generators to work, including in hospitals,” Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East, told reporters on Thursday.

"As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can’t be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," he said.

Gaza's health ministry also said its major hospitals have run out of beds as stocks medical supplies come close to depletion.

The territory, home to 2.3 million people, has witnessed the deadliest bombing campaign in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. More than 1,400 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retribution for Saturday's attack, which left more than 1,300 dead and more than 2,000 injured. The militants also took more than 100 hostages.

Mr Carboni said the ICRC requested security assurances from the warring sides so it can safely deliver and distribute aid and fuel in Gaza.

“We need to be allowed to work in Gaza. We need a safe humanitarian space for humanitarian workers to operate,” he said.

“Security is not allowing us to move freely. We have fuel, we are ready to dispatch, but we need security to be able to get it to hospitals.

“With the supplies we have inside Gaza, we will not be able to maintain the civilian population for a very long time.”

Mr Carboni said there is “nothing to justify” the siege of Gaza or taking civilians hostages.

“We've called on all parties, especially Hamas, to treat people humanely, with dignity, to allow contact with families to share their situations,” he said.

He also called for the immediate release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, stating that there is a “unilateral obligation” to free them and that the ICRC is ready to be an intermediary.

"We are now in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials as part of efforts on this issue. As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and family members; and to facilitate any eventual release."

Mr Carboni called talks “a sustained engagement,” adding that every day, the Red Cross is pushing and engaging.

“What is happening in Gaza is tough, it cannot continue like this,” he said.