The Norwegian Refugee Council has raised urgent concerns about the plight of civilians in Gaza City as Israel intensifies its ground offensive in the area. Shaina Low, a representative of the humanitarian organization, highlighted the life-threatening situation facing Palestinian residents who must decide whether to remain in areas under heavy bombardment or attempt the dangerous journey south.
According to Low, civilians in Gaza City face an impossible choice: risk death by staying in their homes amid airstrikes and artillery fire, or brave hazardous evacuation routes with uncertain prospects for safety and shelter in southern Gaza.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The escalation of military operations has created a severe humanitarian emergency in Gaza City, once home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which operates throughout conflict zones globally, reports that many residents are effectively trapped as fighting intensifies.
“Civilians are caught in an impossible situation,” Low stated. “They face bombardment if they stay, yet have no guaranteed safe passage if they attempt to flee.”
The ground offensive follows weeks of aerial bombardment that has destroyed significant portions of Gaza’s infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and water facilities. This destruction has complicated evacuation efforts and left many with nowhere safe to go.
Evacuation Challenges
Those attempting to move south face multiple obstacles:
- Damaged roads and infrastructure
- Ongoing military operations along evacuation routes
- Limited transportation options
- Uncertainty about safety in southern areas
Humanitarian organizations report that even those who successfully reach southern Gaza often find overcrowded conditions with limited access to basic necessities like clean water, food, and medical care.
International Response
The Norwegian Refugee Council’s warning comes as international pressure mounts for measures to protect civilians caught in the conflict. Multiple humanitarian organizations have called for safe corridors to allow civilians to evacuate and for aid to reach those in need.
“What we’re seeing is a population with no good options, forced to make life-or-death decisions with limited information and resources,” Low emphasized.
The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that all parties to the conflict have obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilian lives and allow humanitarian access.
Military analysts note that urban warfare in densely populated areas like Gaza City presents particular risks to civilians, especially when evacuation routes are limited or unsafe.
As the offensive continues, humanitarian groups warn that the civilian death toll could rise dramatically without immediate action to create genuine safe passages and zones where displaced people can receive essential services.
The situation remains fluid, with conditions on the ground changing rapidly as military operations progress. For now, thousands of civilians remain in harm’s way, facing difficult choices with potentially fatal consequences.
