A convoy carrying vital medical supplies to health facilities in Gaza City comes under fire, injuring a driver.
A humanitarian aid convoy came under fire in Gaza City, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Two trucks were damaged and a driver lightly injured when the ICRC convoy, which was transporting “vital medical supplies to health facilities, including the Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s Al Quds hospital”, was damaged. affected by a fire, the medical NGO said on Tuesday.
The ICRC said it was “deeply disturbed” by this incident and reminded the “warring parties of their obligation, under international humanitarian law, to respect and protect humanitarian workers at all times”.
The statement did not identify the source of the fire on the convoy, made up of five trucks and two ICRC vehicles.
We are deeply disturbed that our humanitarian convoy in Gaza City came under fire today. It was transporting vital medical supplies to health facilities, including in Al Quds. @PalestineRCS hospital.
Under IHL, humanitarian workers must be protected.
👇– ICRC in Israel and OT (@ICRC_ilot) November 7, 2023
Following the incident, the convoy changed its route to reach al-Shifa hospital, where it delivered medical equipment, the ICRC said.
The convoy then accompanied six ambulances carrying seriously injured patients to the Rafah crossing point from Gaza to Egypt.
“These are not the conditions under which humanitarian personnel can work,” said William Schomburg, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza.
“Ensuring that life-saving aid can reach medical facilities is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law. »
The ICRC, a neutral organization based in Geneva, escorted patients and transported freed captives out of Gaza.
Since October 7, Israeli bombings have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, about 40 percent of them children, according to Gaza health authorities.
Nearly two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are internally displaced, according to United Nations figures, and thousands are seeking shelter in hospitals, including makeshift canvas shelters set up in their parking lots.
Hospitals in the enclave have come under fire, with many struggling to continue operating due to a lack of fuel and medical supplies.
The UN says health, sanitation, water and food services in Gaza are near “breaking point”.