Hamas's attack on Israel cannot justify the boundless destruction wrought on Gaza, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday, adding that the parties must fulfill their legal duties when waging war.
"But those attacks [Israeli on Gaza] cannot justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. The parties must not neglect their legal obligations regarding the methods and means used to wage war," the ICRC's statement read.
Israeli orders for Gaza residents to leave their homes, coupled with a denial of access to basic services such as food, water and electricity, violate international humanitarian law, according to the statement.
"When military powers order people to leave their homes, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the population has access to basic necessities like food and water and that members of the same family are not separated," the ICRC said.
On Monday, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel. Both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.