New York (Web Desk): The United Nations (UN) Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has called for accountability and justice following a deadly assault by Israeli forces in southern Gaza that claimed the lives of eight Palestinian medics, six civil defense responders, and a staff member from the UN.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the victims and their vehicles were clearly marked as medical and humanitarian teams, and they accused Israeli forces of killing them in cold blood.
This latest tragedy is part of a broader pattern of violence, with the UN reporting that over the past 18 months, more than 100 Civil Defense workers and over 1,000 healthcare professionals have been killed by Israeli forces. Jonathan Whittall, the UN’s top official in Palestine, recounted how multiple ambulances, fire trucks, and a UN vehicle, all clearly marked, were targeted by Israeli fire on the day of the attack.
Despite efforts to reach the site immediately after the initial assault, access was denied for several days. When UN teams were finally allowed entry, they found the aftermath of the attack, with workers and civilians killed in the chaos.
The situation on the ground was described as horrific, with one survivor recounting how two crew members of an ambulance were shot by Israeli forces. During the mission to retrieve the bodies, aid workers witnessed civilians being shot as they tried to flee. One particular incident stood out: a woman was shot in the back of the head, and when a young man attempted to help her, he was shot as well.
UN staff were able to recover her body, but the trauma of the situation was evident. After hours of digging through the wreckage of the ambulances, fire trucks, and UN vehicle, a body was recovered from beneath a collapsed fire truck.
The Palestine Red Crescent, part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, expressed outrage at the killings, emphasizing that these workers were simply doing their jobs to save lives.
International Federation's Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, condemned the attack, noting that the humanitarian workers were wearing the emblem that should have protected them. He reminded the world that International Humanitarian Law is clear: civilians and humanitarian workers must be safeguarded, and medical services must be allowed to operate without interference.
The attack occurred after the fragile two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came to an end on March 18. In response, Israel issued new evacuation orders for the Rafah region, where violence continues to escalate. The attack on these emergency responders is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones, where they are too often caught in the crossfire.
Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, emphasizing that these workers were sacrificing their lives to help others. He called for an urgent investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, also condemned the killings, stressing that under International Humanitarian Law, health workers should always be protected. He voiced grave concern over the fate of a missing ambulance worker, urging for an immediate end to attacks on health and humanitarian personnel and a return to the ceasefire.