Red Cross Condemns Killing of Eight Medics on Duty in Rafah by Zionist Forces

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that eight medical personnel lost their lives after an ambulance team was subjected to intense gunfire in al-Hashashin on March 23.

Authorities managed to recover the victims’ bodies on Sunday, following a week-long delay in access to the site. Notably, one medic from the nine-member ambulance team remains unaccounted for.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported on Sunday that individuals were “targeted by Israeli occupation forces while carrying out their humanitarian duties.” The team was en route to the Hashashin area of Rafah to provide first aid to those injured by Israeli shelling in the region.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported the retrieval of the bodies of 15 rescuers, comprising eight members from the Red Crescent, six personnel from Gaza’s civil defense agency, and an employee from a UN agency.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced that the bodies of eight workers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) were recovered. This development comes after a week of no communication and restricted access to the Rafah area, where the workers had last been observed.

The humanitarian organization has confirmed the identities of those slain, naming them as 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.

The organization announced that ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra remains unaccounted for.

The Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Jagan Chapagain, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of humanitarian aid workers, describing himself as “heartbroken” by the news.

Heartbreak prevails as dedicated ambulance workers, who were committed to assisting the injured, have been acknowledged for their humanitarian efforts.

He highlighted that the ambulance was distinctly marked to prevent any potential fire from Israeli forces.

Medical personnel wore identifiable emblems intended to safeguard them in conflict zones, and their ambulances were prominently marked to indicate their humanitarian role.

In the world’s most intricate conflict zones, there are established guidelines. These principles of International Humanitarian Law are unequivocal: civilians must be safeguarded, humanitarian workers must be shielded, and health services must be preserved.

In a declaration, Dr. Basem Naim, a prominent leader of Hamas and former Palestinian health minister, denounced the Israeli assault, emphasizing that rescue personnel are covered under international humanitarian law.

A representative from Hamas’s political bureau has characterized the situation in Rafah as “a deliberate and brutal massacre” targeting civil defense and Palestinian Red Crescent teams.

He stated that the deliberate targeting of rescue workers represents a blatant breach of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime.

Israeli forces have renewed their military operations in the Gaza Strip as of March 18, following what they described as Hamas’ rejection of proposals from Washington aimed at extending the ceasefire.

Hamas continues to engage with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to maintain the ceasefire, even amidst ongoing challenges posed by Israeli actions.

Since that time, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 900 Palestinians.

The conflict between Israel and Gaza escalated on October 7, 2023, following the initiation of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation by Palestinian fighters, which was in response to increased hostilities against them.

Since the launch of their aggressive military campaign, Israeli forces have reportedly caused the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinian civilians.