In a statement released here, Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC mission in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, criticized the plans of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reoccupy Gaza City, located in the north of the coastal enclave.

He warned that the offensive could also endanger the lives of Israeli prisoners being held by Palestinian militias.

More than 80% of Gaza has already been affected by evacuation orders, and it is unreasonable to force civilians to relocate to a smaller area, he stated.

The Israeli Army announced yesterday the start of a call-up of approximately 60,000 reservists to prepare for the military campaign against the city, as part of a broader plan ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reoccupy the Strip.

An estimated five divisions will participate in the assault on the city, which, according to the Palestinian press, began in recent days with violent attacks on the Zeitoun neighborhood and surrounding areas.

“Any large-scale evacuation would pose additional risks to civilians given the prevailing conditions on the ground,” Lerisson reiterated, amid reports of plans to expel more than 900,000 people from that town.

He recalled that international humanitarian law guarantees the protection of all civilians, even during military operations.

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