24 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Wednesday, local officials said. The Israeli army said it launched the attacks after “terrorists opened fire on soldiers on Wednesday” and seriously wounded one of its officers, TASR writes, according to an AFP report.
In short:
- 24 people died in Israeli attacks in Gaza
- Israel says it returned fire from terrorists
- The Rafah crossing was partially reopened for aid
- A medic also died while performing humanitarian tasks
Despite the fact that the United States announced the transition to the second phase of the implementation of the cease-fire agreement in mid-January, Israel and the Palestinian radical movement Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the provisions of the cease-fire on an almost daily basis.
Opening the passage
The latest bloodshed came after Israel partially reopened the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. It is the only passage that does not lead to Israel and is also an important channel for humanitarian aid.
The Gaza Health Ministry said 21 people, including three children, were killed and at least 38 others were injured in the series of attacks. The Civil Defense Office later reported that two more people were killed and eight injured in an attack on a tent in the center of the Palestinian territory, while one person died in an attack that hit a group of civilians west of Gaza City.
Death of a paramedic
At the same time, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) expressed outrage over the death of the medic.
The IFRC said a “dedicated medic” of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), “was killed while carrying out humanitarian duties in Khan Younis during an attack in the Al-Mawásí area” in the southern Gaza Strip. The international federation added that the death brought to 30 the number of PRCS staff and volunteers killed in the line of duty in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023.
“The emblems of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are symbols of protection, humanity, neutrality and hope. Yet too often our volunteers and staff are killed doing life-saving work,” she said.
World Humanitarian Network
Based in Geneva, the IFRC is the largest humanitarian network in the world with more than 17 million volunteers in more than 191 countries.
