Civilian suffering in Gaza reaches catastrophic levels after two years of genocide
ICRC warns of collapsing infrastructure, mass displacement, and urgent need for humanitarian access
GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) — Two years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the scale of civilian suffering has reached unprecedented levels, with tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly children and women, killed, injured, or missing, and much of the enclave reduced to rubble.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the devastation has left most Gazans without homes, livelihoods, or access to essential services, forcing families to survive amid debris or in overcrowded camps.
With more than 80 percent of the population affected by evacuation orders, civilians are being pushed into smaller, densely packed areas where food, clean water, and medicine are in critically short supply.
Residents describe scenes of desperation—families salvaging scraps of furniture, queuing for hours to access latrines, or scouring the ruins for food and water. The ICRC said such conditions have stripped people of basic dignity and stability, leaving them to endure what it called “the most severe humanitarian collapse in recent memory”, enabled by Israel’s ruthless genocide of Palestinians.
Travel within Gaza remains perilous, with damaged roads and a shortage of functioning vehicles making evacuation from Gaza City nearly impossible.
Many displaced families arriving in southern Gaza are forced to sleep along the roadside, unable to find shelter or tents in already overcrowded areas.
Over the past two years, the ICRC, in coordination with the Palestine Red Crescent Society and local partners, has delivered emergency aid including medical supplies, food assistance, and repairs to damaged water and sewage networks.
One of the few remaining operational facilities—the ICRC’s Rafah Field Hospital—continues to treat large numbers of wounded and chronically ill patients despite dwindling resources.
However, humanitarian operations have come at an immense cost. More than 30 staff and volunteers from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have been killed since October 2023, with thousands of other volunteers of different groups.
The ICRC said it was recently forced to suspend its office in Gaza City, relocating personnel to southern Gaza for their safety while attempting to sustain limited operations.
The organization reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire by Israel and full adherence to international humanitarian law.
It stressed that civilians must be protected whether they remain in Gaza City or flee south, and that Israel, as the occupying power, bears the legal responsibility to ensure their access to basic needs, while ceasing its genocide of Palestinians.
“The protection of medical staff, hospitals, and civil defense personnel is not optional—it is an obligation under international law,” the ICRC stated, urging the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance across the Gaza Strip.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
