Gaza City, December 4 (RHC)-- The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), during a visit to the Gaza Strip, said the level of human suffering there is intolerable.

“The purpose of my visit is to advance efforts that alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation,” Mirjana Spoljaric said Monday in a statement, adding that civilians currently have “no safe place to go in Gaza."

“We have urgently appealed for civilian life to be protected and respected on all sides, in line with international humanitarian law, and I reiterate that appeal today," she said.
Spoljaric also said the ICRC must be allowed to safely visit hostages being held in Gaza. She said it would enable the organization to provide updates to family members on the well-being of their loved ones. 

The ICRC president highlighted the positive impact of the week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, describing it as “a small degree of humanitarian respite” and a “positive glimpse of humanity." 

“As a neutral actor, the ICRC stands ready to support further humanitarian agreements that reduce suffering and heartbreak," she said.

The ICRC helped facilitate the release of many of the hostages released from Gaza under the week-long truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.  It has also repeatedly called for the protection of aid workers, civilians and critical infrastructure.