Charities have urged the UK Government to work with Israel to avoid a “humanitarian catastrophe” for Palestinians in Gaza.
ActionAid UK, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Medical Aid for Palestinians (Map) and Christian Aid warned that Israel’s order for one million Palestinians living in Gaza to evacuate the north will have “grave humanitarian and health consequences”.
The UN has warned that almost half of Gaza’s total population fleeing at once would be calamitous.
Hamas, who staged a brutal attack on Israel on Saturday, dismissed the evacuation order and called on people to stay in their homes.
Dr Halima Begum, chief executive of ActionAid UK, said the charity considered it “impossible for such an evacuation to happen without disastrous consequences”.
“As a humanitarian organisation with a particular focus on women and girls, we urge the parties to consider in particular the plight of pregnant women and terrified, vulnerable children at risk of separation from their parents amid the chaos and confusion of this escalating conflict,” Dr Begum said.
“In the strongest possible terms, we therefore urge the UK government to work with the Israeli government to take all necessary steps to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”
The ICRC said the evacuation order “coupled with the complete siege explicitly denying them food, water, and electricity, are not compatible with international humanitarian law”.
The charity said in a statement: “Nothing can justify the horrific attacks Israel suffered last weekend. Our hearts go out to people who lost family members or are worried sick about loved ones taken hostage.
“We reiterate our call for their immediate release and stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits. But those attacks cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. The parties must not neglect their legal obligations regarding the methods and means used to wage war.
“When military powers order people to leave their homes, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the population has access to basic necessities like food and water and that members of the same family are not separated.
“Gaza is a closed area of limited size and resources. People have nowhere safe to go and many, including the disabled, elderly, and sick, will not be able to leave their homes. International humanitarian law protects all civilians, including those who remain. Today, it is impossible for Gazans to know which areas will next face attack.”
Melanie Ward, chief executive of Map, urged the international community to “demand that Israel rescind its warning and ensure Palestinian civilians are protected from attack”.
“They should remember their responsibility to protect against atrocity crimes, including ethnic cleansing,” she added.
“Our colleagues in Gaza are frightened. Incredibly, some are still out distributing the supplies we have been able to procure locally amid the bombardment.”
Osai Ojigho, Christian Aid’s director of policy, public affairs and campaigns, said: “All parties must abide by international humanitarian law and unconditionally agree to protect civilians and key services, starting with establishing safe humanitarian access as requested by the UN.
“With the civilian population of Gaza already on their knees, the UK Government must not cut aid to the Palestinian people. We need that commitment today. As we pray for an end to the conflict, international leaders must also act and help secure a lasting peace that achieves justice and dignity for all.”
The charity added that one of its partners in Gaza had warned the situation was “deteriorating very badly”.
ActionAid UK and Christian Aid have launched appeals and are calling on the British public to help raise funds to support the victims of the conflict.
