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Red Cross outraged over killing of eight medics in Gaza | Red Cross outraged over killing of eight medics in Gaza |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Palestinian Red Crescent Society employees embrace as the bodies of their colleagues are brought to a medical facility in Khan Younis, southern Gaza | |
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said it is "outraged" at the deaths of eight medics killed on duty in Rafah in southern Gaza. | The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said it is "outraged" at the deaths of eight medics killed on duty in Rafah in southern Gaza. |
The nine-person ambulance team came under heavy fire in al-Hashashin on 23 March, said the IFRC. Their bodies were retrieved on Sunday after access was denied for a week. One medic is still missing. | The nine-person ambulance team came under heavy fire in al-Hashashin on 23 March, said the IFRC. Their bodies were retrieved on Sunday after access was denied for a week. One medic is still missing. |
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their staff's bodies were discovered along with those of six members of Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence agency and one UN employee. | The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their staff's bodies were discovered along with those of six members of Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence agency and one UN employee. |
They did not say who opened fire on the convoy - but Hamas blamed the Israel Defense Forces for the attack. The BBC has sought comment from the IDF. | They did not say who opened fire on the convoy - but Hamas blamed the Israel Defense Forces for the attack. The BBC has sought comment from the IDF. |
In Sunday's statement, the IFRC said the eight bodies of PRCS workers were retrieved "after seven days of silence and having access denied to the area of Rafah where they were last seen". | In Sunday's statement, the IFRC said the eight bodies of PRCS workers were retrieved "after seven days of silence and having access denied to the area of Rafah where they were last seen". |
The organisation identified those killed as ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath, and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed al-Sharif and Rifatt Radwan. | The organisation identified those killed as ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath, and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed al-Sharif and Rifatt Radwan. |
It added that ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra was "still missing". | It added that ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra was "still missing". |
"I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians," IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said. | "I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians," IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said. |
"They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. | "They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. |
"Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected." | "Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected." |
The IDF has publicly not commented on the Red Cross and Red Crescent statement. | The IDF has publicly not commented on the Red Cross and Red Crescent statement. |
The AFP news agency reported that on Saturday the Israeli military admitted it had fired on ambulances in southern Gaza last Sunday after identifying them as "suspicious vehicles". | The AFP news agency reported that on Saturday the Israeli military admitted it had fired on ambulances in southern Gaza last Sunday after identifying them as "suspicious vehicles". |
Israeli troops had "opened fire toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas terrorists", the military said in a statement to AFP. | Israeli troops had "opened fire toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas terrorists", the military said in a statement to AFP. |
"A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops... The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists." | "A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops... The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists." |
The military added that "after an initial inquiry, it was determined that some of the suspicious vehicles... were ambulances and fire trucks". | The military added that "after an initial inquiry, it was determined that some of the suspicious vehicles... were ambulances and fire trucks". |
It also said there had been "repeated use" by "terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip of ambulances for terrorist purposes". | It also said there had been "repeated use" by "terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip of ambulances for terrorist purposes". |
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim condemned the attack. | Senior Hamas official Basem Naim condemned the attack. |
"The targeted killing of rescue workers - who are protected under international humanitarian law - constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime," he said. | "The targeted killing of rescue workers - who are protected under international humanitarian law - constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime," he said. |
Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on 18 March after the first phase of a ceasefire that began in January came to an end, and negotiations on a second phase of the deal stalled. | Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on 18 March after the first phase of a ceasefire that began in January came to an end, and negotiations on a second phase of the deal stalled. |
More than 900 people have since been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry has said. | More than 900 people have since been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry has said. |
The war was triggered when Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as captives. | The war was triggered when Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as captives. |
Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says. | Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says. |