The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has expressed outrage over the killing of eight medics in a Gaza ambulance attack on March 23. The IFRC stated that the bodies of the nine-person ambulance team, who were providing humanitarian aid, were found after seven days with access denied to the area.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society identified the victims as PRCS workers and Hamas civil defence agency members. One medic is still missing. IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain described the medics as “dedicated humanitarians” who wore emblems that should have protected them, but were not.
Israel has denied firing on the ambulances but acknowledged firing at suspicious vehicles in the area. The Israeli military said it had identified Hamas vehicles and eliminated several terrorists before realizing the ambulances were innocent. However, senior Hamas official Basem Naim condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” and a war crime.
The IFRC is calling for protection of civilians and humanitarians under International Humanitarian Law. The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with over 900 people killed by Israeli strikes and more than 50,000 Palestinians reported dead.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkxm1rg6k1o