On March 30, a joint mission of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) made a tragic discovery in Rafah, where the bodies of eight PRCS paramedics, six civil defense workers, and one UN staff member were found. These victims were killed by the Israeli army while trying to assist the wounded after the bombings on March 23.
During a press conference, Dylan Winder, along with Dr. Younes al-Khatib, president of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, confirmed that one of the paramedics, identified as Assad, is still missing. Al-Khatib demanded information about his whereabouts, pointing out that he was last seen while the team was carrying out an aid operation in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah. This attack has been described as the deadliest against Red Cross and Red Crescent workers worldwide since 2017.
The situation became even more alarming after the release of a video recorded from one of the ambulances, showing Israeli tanks firing at clearly marked emergency vehicles. In the footage, a rescuer expresses his desperation, shouting that they are under attack, highlighting concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers in the region.
The last words of one of the paramedics, recorded in an audio found on his phone, reveal the anguish of those trying to save lives. “Mom, forgive me. I just wanted to help people, I wanted to save lives,” he is heard saying moments before being killed. Dr. al-Khatib announced that a forensic report is being prepared and will be made public soon.
In response to this grave situation, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has called on the international community not to ignore Gaza, urging for an immediate ceasefire, as well as unrestricted humanitarian access and an end to impunity for attacks against humanitarian workers. “We cannot leave Gaza alone. This is a call to our international community,” Al-Khatib declared.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, with all border crossings closed for over a month, forcing thousands of families to flee to the west of the Gaza Strip. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN, warned that the new evacuation orders have further exposed civilians to hostilities, depriving them of access to basic services.
The health conditions in the region are concerning, with infestations of fleas and mites in displaced camps, causing health problems. The lack of medical supplies, blocked at border crossings, has hindered the provision of necessary treatment. At the same time, the security situation has deteriorated, evidenced by an increase in looting and attacks on food distribution centers.
In the West Bank, Israeli operations continue to cause the displacement of tens of thousands of people, especially in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem. Despite the efforts of humanitarian partners to provide urgent assistance, the situation continues to worsen, adding more pressure on an already vulnerable region.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish