Gaza City, June 22, 2024 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that its office in Gaza was struck by heavy-caliber projectiles on Friday, resulting in the deaths of 22 civilians who had sought refuge around the compound.
The incident highlights the escalating violence and its devastating impact on humanitarian efforts in the region.
“Heavy-calibre projectiles landed within meters of the office and residences of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday afternoon,” an ICRC statement revealed.
The organization emphasized that all parties involved in the conflict are obligated to take precautions to avoid harming civilians and humanitarian facilities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that preliminary investigations show “no indication” that an Israeli strike hit the area but confirmed that the incident is “under review.”
Meanwhile, the ICRC detailed the extensive damage caused to its facilities, surrounded by hundreds of displaced civilians living in tents, including many Palestinian colleagues.
This tragic event resulted in a mass casualty influx at the nearby Red Cross Field Hospital, which reported receiving 22 fatalities and 45 injured individuals, with additional casualties expected.
“This incident caused a mass casualty influx at the nearby Red Cross Field Hospital, with the hospital receiving 22 killed and 45 injured, with reports of additional casualties,” the ICRC noted in its statement.
The organization condemned the “grave security incident” as one of several recent occurrences that have endangered the lives of humanitarians and civilians alike.
“We decry these incidents that put the lives of humanitarians and civilians at risk,” the statement added.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza provided different figures, claiming that 25 people were killed and 50 injured in the shelling, which it attributed to Israeli forces.
This attack comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas, which began after an unprecedented assault on southern Israel by the Palestinian armed group on October 7.
This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 37,551 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, with reports identifying 14,680 children, women, and elderly among the deceased by the end of April.
In a related development, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of the potential for a regional catastrophe due to the escalating hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah.
Guterres accused both sides of engaging in increasingly warlike rhetoric and urged immediate de-escalation, stressing that Lebanon must not become “another Gaza.”
Recent months have seen a series of retaliatory cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that claims to be fighting in support of Hamas in Gaza.
Guterres’ appeal underscores the broader regional risks posed by the ongoing violence and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to prevent further humanitarian disasters.
As the conflict rages on, the international community watches with growing concern, calling for measures to protect civilians and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers in the region.
The ICRC’s plea for adherence to international humanitarian law serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of this protracted conflict.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members