Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in southern Gaza early Sunday, resulting in the death of a staff member and injuries to two others. The organization reported that the attack involved Israeli fighter jets hitting the first floor of their building in Khan Younis, leading to a fire and extensive damage.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Red Crescent asserted that the location of their headquarters is well known to Israeli forces and clearly marked with the protective red emblem. They emphasized that this was not an accidental strike, labeling it a deliberate attack on a protected facility and a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law, constituting a war crime.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa had earlier reported the casualty figures from the attack, noting one fatality and injuries to three other individuals. In response to the incident, the Red Crescent renewed its call for accountability and the protection of humanitarian and medical personnel.
The airstrike occurred following a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff to Gaza on Saturday. His visit was focused on assessing efforts to deliver food to the Palestinian territory, which is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis with increasing deaths due to hunger and starvation. Qu Dongyu, head of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, highlighted the precarious situation, stating that Gaza is on the verge of a full-scale famine, with access to food blocked and local agrifood systems collapsing.
Despite international demands for a ceasefire, the Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, resulting in over 60,400 Palestinian deaths since October 2023. In November of the previous year, the International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.