'Israel' kills 9 UN and 5 IFRC staffers in Gaza bombing
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In a post on X, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees urged the protection of civilians, particularly in times of conflict.
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A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 10, 2023 (AP)
The United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees reported on Wednesday that 9 of its staffers have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
In a post on X, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees urged the protection of civilians, particularly in times of conflict.
9 of our @UN staffers have been killed in airstrikes in📍#GazaStrip since Saturday.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 11, 2023
“The protection of civilians is paramount, including in times of conflict. They should be protected in accordance with the laws of war.” @JulietteTouma @AP https://t.co/Bt87Djf4GM pic.twitter.com/Vxy170Y3pH
The killing of five of its employees in ambulances in Israel and the Gaza Strip was verified by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Wednesday.
"The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is devastated to confirm the deaths of five members of our network due to the armed hostilities in Israel and the Gaza Strip," the IFRC said in a statement, published on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Five IFRC network members killed. Civilians and healthcare workers must be respected and protected. #NotATarget @PalestineRCS @Mdais pic.twitter.com/RbCDRCPxyw
— IFRC (@ifrc) October 11, 2023
The IFRC added that the employees "died" in line of duty.
"Today, Wednesday, in two different incidents, ambulances were hit killing four Palestine Red Crescent paramedics who were helping those in need. Previously, on Saturday, an ambulance driver of Magen David Adom in Israel lost his life while driving an ambulance to treat injured people," the statement said.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the Israeli occupation is deliberately targeting medical teams, healthcare institutions, and ambulances to stifle rescue operations.
The Health Ministry added that medical teams are working in dangerous and unsafe conditions, but they remain committed to their duties towards their people. Furthermore, the Ministry called on the international community to take effective measures to protect medical teams, healthcare institutions, and ambulances.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced in its latest statistics that 950 people have been killed by Israeli occupation forces, including 260 children and 230 women, with around 2,650 injuries, as a result of the ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, Mahmoud Basal, told Al Mayadeen that "the occupation is committing acts of genocide": adding that they were employing white phosphorus in their attacks against civilian targets, which is internationally prohibited under Protocol III of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons.
Earlier this morning, UNOCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reported that 263,934 individuals in Gaza have been forced to evacuate their homes since the onset of the Israeli aggression against the region.
The Israeli occupation continues its aggression against Gaza for the fifth day in a row, confirming it launched more than 200 raids on the al-Furqan neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza confirmed that Israeli occupation aircraft launched a series of attacks north and west of Gaza City, adding that heavy bombardment targeted the vicinity of the Port of Gaza.
Read more: IOF bombing wipe out entire neighborhoods in Gaza
