International aid groups call for end to ‘hemorrhage of human lives’ in Gaza

International organizations and aid agencies called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire to end a 'hemorrhage of human lives' in Gaza.

International organizations and aid agencies called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire to end a “hemorrhage of human lives” in Gaza, warning that the situation could quickly spiral out of control.

They made their appeals at a conference in Paris intended to coordinate aid and assess how to help people wounded in Gaza since Israeli launched its ground and air offensive in response to an attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Representatives of Arab nations, Western powers and members of the Group of 20 major economies were among those attending the conference, but Israel was not invited and few heads of state, government or foreign ministers were there. Expectations for concrete results are low if there is no pause in fighting.

Participants were set to discuss a proposal to create a maritime corridor to ship humanitarian aid into Gaza or evacuate the wounded, the establishment of field hospitals and financial assistance to ease the growing humanitarian crisis.

“We cannot wait a minute more for a humanitarian ceasefire or lifting of siege which is collective punishment,” said Jan Egeland, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

“Without a ceasefire, lifting of siege and indiscriminate bombarding and warfare, the hemorrhage of human lives will continue,” he said in comments echoed by the United Nations and the International Red Cross.

Israel has ruled out an immediate ceasefire that might help strengthen Hamas. The United States has echoed the Israeli view, warning that a ceasefire could help Hamas regroup, but has called for humanitarian pauses.

Doctors Without Borders chief Isabelle Defourny, whose staff operate in Gaza, said safe zones for Palestinians in southern Gaza were unrealistic and that sustained halts in fighting were needed, “not an hour (pause) here or there.”