The IFRC has condemned the killing of eight emergency responders in Gaza, demanding protection for humanitarian workers amid escalating violence and ongoing military operations.
Outrage Surrounds Death of Eight Medics in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
Outrage Surrounds Death of Eight Medics in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expresses deep concern over the tragic loss of medics in Gaza following a deadly incident involving an ambulance convoy.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has voiced strong outrage over the deaths of eight medics tragically killed while performing their duties in Rafah, southern Gaza. The ambulance team, consisting of nine members, was caught in heavy fire in al-Hashashin on March 23, with the bodies of the deceased medics being recovered on Sunday after a week of denied access to the impacted area. One medic is still unaccounted for.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that the bodies of their personnel were found alongside six members of Gaza's Hamas-run civil defense agency and one United Nations employee. The specific aggressor responsible for the attack remains unclear, though Hamas has accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In response to inquiries, the BBC has sought a comment from the IDF regarding the incident.
The IFRC’s statement highlighted the retrieval of the medics' bodies after a prolonged absence of information, underscoring the critical need for humanitarian protection. Those confirmed dead include ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer, and Ezzedine Shaath, along with first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed al-Sharif, and Rifatt Radwan. Ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra remains missing.
IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss, stating, "These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians... These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected."
Although the IDF has yet to publicly address the concerns raised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s announcement, the AFP news agency reported that the Israeli military acknowledged opening fire on ambulances in southern Gaza, which they claimed were identified as "suspicious vehicles." Israeli forces asserted that their actions were directed at Hamas personnel and implied that some vehicles had been misused by militant organizations for their own purposes.
Senior Hamas leader Basem Naim condemned the assault, declaring the targeted killing of rescue workers as a grave breach of international humanitarian law and a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
This grim development comes during Israel's renewed military action in Gaza, which resumed on March 18, following a ceasefire that had been in place since January. The toll of conflict has escalated sharply, with reports indicating over 900 deaths in Gaza due to Israeli strikes. Ongoing tensions trace back to the outbreak of violence initiated by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties on both sides, including more than 50,000 Palestinians as recorded by Gaza’s health ministry. The humanitarian crisis deepens daily, with pleas for medical supplies and assistance becoming more urgent in the region.
