In brief
The incident raises concerns over the safety of aid workers amid ongoing military operations in Gaza.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has accused Israeli forces of launching an attack on its headquarters in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, resulting in the death of one worker and injuries to three others. The organization described the early Sunday attack as "deliberate," emphasizing that the facility is "well known" to Israeli military and marked with the protective red emblem.In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it was reviewing the claim regarding damage to the PRCS building and insisted that "uninvolved individuals in the Khan Younis area were harmed as a result of an IDF strike." Footage shared by the PRCS showed the building engulfed in flames, with devastating images revealing extensive damage and bloodstains on the floors.According to reports from PRCS, the incident unfolded shortly after midnight when Israeli artillery targeted the upper floors of the building. Just as rescue teams were evacuating personnel and assessing the damage, the building was struck again on the second floor, subsequently hitting the ground floor amid firefighting efforts. The organization identified the deceased worker as Omar Isleem, expressing deep sorrow. Additionally, the attack injured two other employees and a civilian attempting to extinguish the fire. The PRCS highlighted that this marks a growing concern for humanitarian workers, noting that 51 of its staff and volunteers in Gaza have died since the conflict escalated, with 29 killed while performing humanitarian duties. The UN Human Rights office condemned the recurring attacks on emergency workers in Gaza and has called for an independent investigation.The humanitarian crisis worsens as the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 104 individuals were killed by Israeli military actions in the previous day alone. The ongoing violence also claimed lives near an aid distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to local hospital reports.In light of these developments, medics have issued warnings of severe shortages in medical supplies amid an 11-week blockade of aid into Gaza, which has only been partially lifted. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that malnutrition has led to the deaths of six more individuals, raising total fatalities due to malnutrition since the conflict started to 175, including 93 children. While Israel insists it is not blocking aid deliveries, humanitarian agencies are urging for more assistance to prevent famine and malnutrition from worsening.Meanwhile, the IDF reported on its efforts in cooperation with various countries, including France and Germany, to airdrop aid packages to residents in southern and northern Gaza. The ongoing conflict follows a devastating attack by Hamas on Israeli territory that resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has cited a staggering number of deaths across Gaza since the onset of hostilities.
