Shelling incident near Red Cross office in Gaza Strip: Israel denies Hamas' allegations of involvement
According to the ICRC, bullets only strayed a mere few meters from their office and the adjacent housing complexes housing hundreds of displaced Palestinians living in tents. These sites are well-known to the conflict parties and are clearly marked with the Red Cross Emblem. Attacks so close to humanitarian facilities pose a grave risk to civilians and staff, with further casualties reported.
Initially, the ICRC remained tight-lipped about the source of last Friday's shooting, only acknowledging a significant security incident. Previously, militants had targeted ICRC installations.
However, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry pinned the blame on Israel, claiming that the Israeli army had attacked displaced persons' tents in the Al-Mawasi area. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry reported 25 deaths and 50 injuries. Prior to their ground offensive in May, Israel had declared the coastal township of Rafah, about ten kilometers from the city, a "humanitarian zone."
Israel rejected these accusations. An Israeli army spokesperson told AFP that a preliminary investigation showed no evidence of an attack by the army in Al-Mawasi. The incident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Clashes were reported between armed Palestinians and Israeli military forces in Gaza City's northern sector. Witnesses claimed shelling from Israeli helicopters targeting armed Palestinians.
The Israeli army reported conducting operations in the Gaza Strip's center on Saturday, claiming to have neutralized several armed terrorists. They also stated that combat jets and other aircraft struck numerous terrorist targets, including armed terrorists, weapons caches, and other terrorist infrastructure.
At the same time, attempts to create a firebreak and release the prisoners held in Gaza persisted. The Qatari government is trying to bridge the gap to negotiate a weapons truce between the conflict parties and the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, as per Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who made these comments during a visit to Madrid on Friday. Ongoing meetings with Hamas leadership have taken place regularly in recent days.
Hamas leader in Qatar, Ismail Haniya, affirmed that Hamas was open to considering proposals. However, he reiterated his demand for a permanent ceasefire before a hostage-for-prisoners exchange. "The priority" is an "end to the criminal war against the (Palestinian) people," he stated. The ongoing talks and mediation efforts are based on a plan announced publicly by US President Joe Biden at the end of May. Al-Thani admitted that no progress had been made yet.
The conflict in Gaza erupted on 7th October, triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack against Israel, during which 1194 people are reported to have been killed and 251 held as hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel has been carrying out extensive military operations in Gaza since then. According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas, whose independence cannot be confirmed, over 37,550 people have been killed.
Read also:
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concern about a recent shelling incident near their office in the Gaza Strip, which is marked with the Red Cross Emblem.
- The ICRC Office in Gaza Strip, overseen by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani's BMG, houses hundreds of displaced Palestinians living in tents, and attacks nearby pose a significant risk.
- Following the incident, Hamas accused Israel of causing harm to displaced persons' tents in Rafah, a township in the Gaza Strip that Israel had previously declared a "humanitarian zone."
- ICRC, located in Gaza Strip, reported that bullets had strayed close to their office and adjacent housing complexes, posing a grave threat to civilians and staff.
- Disputing Hamas' accusations, the Israeli army conducted a preliminary investigation that found no evidence of an attack by Israeli forces in Al-Mawasi.
- Qatar, led by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, has been actively trying to mediate a truce between the conflict parties and release Israeli hostages in Gaza, as per Hamas leader Ismail Haniya's demand for a permanent ceasefire.
- The Red Cross, also known as the International Committee of the Red Cross, has been working tirelessly in various conflict zones, including the Gaza Strip, to protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid.
