The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned on Friday the shelling attack that took place near its Gaza office, killing 22 people and injuring 45 who had taken shelter near the building.
In a statement on X, the ICRC did not identify who committed the attack but condemned the firing near humanitarian structures. They emphasized that the conflicting parties are obligated to take all “feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians and damage to civilian objects” under international law.
The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza gave a different number, reporting that 25 individuals had lost their lives and an additional 50 were injured due to the shelling. The ministry attributed the attack to Israeli forces.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), on the other hand, stated that “there was no direct attack carried out by the IDF against a Red Cross facility.” Nonetheless, the military emphasized that the incident would be swiftly investigated, with the findings to be shared with their international partners. The IDF also noted that they are committed to ensuring the safety of international organizations in Gaza.
On Saturday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also condemned the attack. He emphasized the EU’s stance by calling for a thorough and independent investigation to uncover the details and circumstances surrounding the incident. Borrell stressed the importance of accountability, urging that those found responsible for the attack be held to account for their actions.
The attack is not the first to affect humanitarian organizations. In May, it was reported that more than 250 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7. Under customary international law, civilian humanitarian relief personnel are protected against attack according to the principle of distinction. The prohibition of attacks on civilian humanitarian relief personnel is necessary to guarantee access to humanitarian relief to civilians in need and protect the wounded and sick in the armed forces. In cases of violations of international humanitarian laws (IHL), states are obligated to prosecute alleged offenders. In addition, grave breaches of IHL are regarded as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
