BBC News
Anadolu via Getty Images
The Red Cross movement has voiced its anger over the deaths of eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence first responders, and a UN staff member, all killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. This tragic incident occurred on March 23 when ambulances and rescue vehicles were allegedly struck in the al-Hashashin area, according to a UN spokesperson. Reports indicate that the bodies were unearthed from a “mass grave.”
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) disclosed that one more medic is reported missing and accused Israeli forces of intentionally targeting their staff. The Israeli military, however, stated that their troops opened fire on vehicles considered suspicious for lacking headlights or emergency signals, claiming that Hamas operatives were among those killed.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) confirmed that after days of silence and restricted access to the Rafah area, the bodies of the medics were recovered. The deceased were named as ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer, and Ezzedine Shaath, alongside volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed al-Sharif, and Rifatt Radwan, with one officer still unaccounted for.
Expressing deep sorrow, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain labeled the deceased medics as humanitarians who were responding to incidents requiring urgent medical aid. He emphasized that both civilians and humanitarian workers should be shielded during conflicts, echoing the fundamental tenets of International Humanitarian Law.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza also supported the recovery efforts, noting that their staff assisted in retrieving the bodies from a grave marked by emergency lighting from a damaged ambulance. Jonathan Whittall, OCHA’s head in Gaza, expressed horror over the incident, which he deemed a violation of established norms governing conflicts.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintained their narrative that the vehicles engaged were not properly identified due to their suspicious behavior, reiterating that they would continue operations to combat militant activities. Meanwhile, calls for an investigation into the systematic attack on humanitarian workers have reached heightened levels from various organizations and officials, emphasizing the necessity for adherence to international law during armed conflicts.
