ICRC decries lack of equipment to rescue people from under the rubble

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Nov 2023 00:11
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The ICRC sub-delegation head in Gaza says the organization lacks the necessary equipment to assist in pulling out survivors from under the rubble following Israeli airstrikes.

An injured Palestinian boy cries as rescuers try to pull him out of the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (AP)

Helpless and incapable of assisting Palestinians stuck under the rubble following continuous Israeli airstrikes, the International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) sub-delegation head in Gaza, William Schomburg, announced, on Friday, that they did not have the heavy equipment or bulldozers needed to assist people trapped under rubble in the Gaza Strip.

"No, we do not have the heavy equipment needed for such work. However, we have been cooperating for a long time with the civil protection service and the police department [of Gaza], which are responsible for such operations," said Schomburg, adding, "We support them, and we have already organized training for them with our experts."

Moreover, the ICRC sub-delegation head confirmed that the group is "not involved in any negotiations on this issue [of bringing heavy equipment into Gaza], but we do not have bulldozers or other equipment needed for this."

Schomburg interestingly stressed that "this will happen in the next phase of the conflict, but it is too early now," despite the "astonishing" level of destruction, given that entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble because of relentless, indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.

Dozens killed, injured as 'Israel' bombed Rafah-bound ambulance convoy

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the Israeli occupation forces have targeted an ambulance convoy departing from Al-Shifa Hospital heading to the Rafah border crossing.

Ashraf al-Qudra, the Health Ministry Spokesperson, stated that the Red Cross was informed about the moving of the convoy in accordance with international law.

A new #US-sponsored, Israeli-committed massacre The IOF deliberately bombed a school where Gazans were taking shelter, leaving nothing but the remains of innocent children, women, and men who had sought refuge from the ruthless Israeli war machines.#PalestineGenocide… pic.twitter.com/F0c9uWER84
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 3, 2023

Al-Qudra maintained that the IOF targeted the convoy "at the gate of the hospital and then at the Ansar square, the occupation targeted the convoy in more than one location outside Al-Shifa hospital."

Palestinian media earlier reported that the strike led to dozens killed and injured.

While the Israeli forces claim that they targeted a vehicle used by a Hamas cell, close to a battle zone, footage from the scene of the massacre proves that these "operatives" were mainly children.