A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross has said that the group will be unable to carry out its operations in Gaza if the military operation in Rafah continues.

“Our operations despite the challenges continue in Rafah and in the middle area,” Hisham Mhanna told Al Jazeera from Rafah.

“However, we are extremely concerned that we will not be able to maintain our operations if the military operation expands and the Rafah crossing remains closed.”

Mhanna said the ICRC was currently supporting kitchen centres, providing meals to thousands of families on a daily basis, providing support to hospitals, helping civil defence teams with retrieving bodies under the rubble, and other services.

“This will be a drop in the ocean if the situation deteriorates further,” Mhanna added.