Gaza war has 'ruptured any sense of a shared humanity': Red Cross

GENEVA The war in Gaza has "ruptured any sense of a shared humanity", the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on March 9.

ICRC head Mirjana Spoljaric called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, saying Israel and Hamas must respect international law and protect civilians caught up in their conflict.

She said getting a steady, substantial flow of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory - where the United Nations says more than 90 per cent of the population are on the brink of famine - was "only part of the solution".

"Alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza starts with a clear will and measures that safeguard civilian life and human dignity, meaning both sides must conduct their military operations in a way that spares the civilians who are caught in the middle," Ms Spoljaric said.