Dozens of families were left homeless in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Saturday after Israeli forces raided one of the largest residential buildings there, claiming the neighborhood was being used by Hamas to plot attacks against Israel.

No injuries were reported.

Israel’s latest attacks are increasing pressure on the last part of the enclave it has yet to target, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians are seeking refuge.

One of the 300 residents of the tower, about 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the Egyptian border, told Reuters that Israel warned them to flee the building for 30 minutes at night.

“People were startled and ran down the stairs, some fell down, and the scene was chaotic. People left their belongings and money behind,” said Mohamed Nabris, who said he was fleeing from the panicked evacuation. Among the people who tripped on the stairs was the pregnant wife of a friend.

The situation worsens

Five months after Hamas terror attacks on Israel sparked the war, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. The attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 230 Israelis and other foreigners hostage, according to Israeli figures.

“People have nowhere to go safely,” said a statement released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday.

Health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza say nearly 31,000 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more bodies are feared buried under the rubble.

Mirjana Spoljalic, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, condemned the continuing civilian casualties in Gaza and urgently called for the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas.

Spoljalic’s statement also called on Gaza to cease hostilities in order to provide meaningful aid to those in need and to allow Red Cross visits to hostages. In addition, it demands that Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody be treated humanely.

As a neutral mediator, the Red Cross can provide food supplies, shelter and health assistance if hostilities cease, the statement said. “The ICRC’s long-standing work in Gaza’s health, electricity and water sectors will allow us to quickly support these vital services.

maritime assistance

A ship carrying relief supplies including rice, flour and protein is due to leave Cyprus on Saturday as part of efforts to aid people on the brink of famine.

open armsA ship owned by a Spanish NGO is expected to set sail this weekend on its first mission to Gaza. The ship is typically deployed to rescue migrants at sea.

The pilot project is run by international charity World Central Kitchen and funded by the United Arab Emirates.

“WCK and partners agree that more than one ship will be needed and are working to provide a continuous flow of aid,” the charity said in a statement, adding that a further 500 would be made available following the initial shipment. tons of aid.

ceasefire negotiations

Meanwhile, talks over a possible ceasefire remain deadlocked.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that it was up to Hamas to achieve a ceasefire in the near future. Blinken said ahead of talks with the Turkish delegation in Washington that the United States was continuing to work towards a ceasefire despite reports that Hamas negotiators had left the talks in Cairo.

UNRWA funding

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, expressed cautious optimism that some donors would resume funding the humanitarian agency again within weeks and warned that 12 of its 13,000 staff would be affected by the Israeli indictment. Participated in the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Lazzarini made the remarks in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS that aired on Saturday.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is under an independent investigation by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. The final report is expected to be released next month.

Colonna, whose review began in mid-February, said on Saturday she would visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman next week.

UNRWA provides assistance and basic services to Palestine refugees in Gaza and throughout the region. The agency’s February report.

UNRWA operates schools, medical clinics and other social services in Gaza and distributes humanitarian aid. The United Nations says some 3,000 staff are still working to deliver aid to the enclave, where 576,000 people – a quarter of the population – are one step away from famine.

VOA’s United Nations correspondent Margaret Beshear contributed to this report. Some information provided by The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters.