The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced the closure of its main office in Gaza City due to escalating military operations in the area and the absence of security guarantees for its staff.
The spokesperson for the ICRC in Gaza said that the decision was taken after military activities reached within a few hundred meters of the organization’s premises, making it impossible to continue operations safely.
He noted that the office had served for decades as a central hub for humanitarian work, but the ongoing escalation had forced the suspension of activities inside the facility.
Despite the closure, the Red Cross has intensified its support for civilians and medical institutions. In recent weeks, seven shipments of medical supplies have been delivered to hospitals including Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and Al-Quds Hospital of the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The organization has also provided critical equipment to water and sanitation service providers, including water tanks and purification tools, underscoring its commitment to humanitarian assistance despite the challenges.
The spokesperson stressed that suspending direct work in northern Gaza does not mean abandoning civilians or medical teams. The Red Cross continues to coordinate with the Palestinian Red Crescent and civil defense, while maintaining operations in southern Gaza where conditions remain extremely difficult.
He added that the organization receives hundreds of daily calls from civilians trapped in conflict zones and is working to secure safe passages whenever possible, in addition to sending medical consignments when authorized by Israeli authorities.
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