The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Pierre Krähenbühl, has voiced grave concerns regarding the nature of warfare currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Krähenbühl stated, “If Gaza represents the future of warfare, then I am afraid for the future of humanity.
He emphasized that the scale of suffering is unprecedented, asserting that it is no longer possible to deny the realities on the ground. Millions of civilians have been repeatedly displaced and tragically, over 400 humanitarian aid workers have lost their lives. “We do not see such numbers in any other conflict and I have never encountered them in my 35 years of experience” Krähenbühl noted.
While acknowledging that the ICRC continues to provide crucial assistance, he expressed the opinion that significantly more political courage is needed to believe in and pursue solutions. He suggested that the international community appears to be passively accepting a protracted state of violence despite repeated declarations of commitment to upholding international humanitarian law.
Krähenbühl warned of a worrying trend: a gradual erosion of trust in the Geneva Conventions and their fundamental principles. He cautioned that undermining these foundational agreements risks plunging the world into further turmoil.
The situation is being exacerbated by substantial cuts to humanitarian aid, including from Germany. The ICRC is therefore being forced to meticulously review its operational capacity and prioritize “life-saving functions” in response to immediate crises.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, founded in 1863 and based in Geneva, is a neutral and independent humanitarian organization operating globally in numerous conflict zones including Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine and Gaza.