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Two humanitarian workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestinian Red Crescent were injured by gunfire during a rescue mission in the Gaza Strip late Thursday night, the ICRC confirmed in a statement issued Friday.
The team had been attempting to locate an ICRC staff member and their family, who have been missing since July 4 amid the escalating conflict in the region. The rescue operation was conducted in coordination with relevant authorities, with all vehicles clearly marked and illuminated with the internationally recognized Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.
According to the ICRC, the shooting left one ICRC representative and one Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer wounded. Both were swiftly evacuated from the area and received medical treatment. Their condition is currently described as stable. However, the search for the missing ICRC staffer and their family has so far been unsuccessful.
This marks the second time in less than a week that Red Cross personnel have come under fire in Gaza. The ICRC strongly condemned the attack, underscoring that medical teams and humanitarian workers are protected under international humanitarian law.
“Targeting clearly marked humanitarian vehicles and personnel is unacceptable,” the organization said, urging all parties in the conflict to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and respect the neutrality of the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.
Responding to inquiries from The Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the report of a Red Cross worker being injured by IDF fire. “The incident is under investigation,” the IDF said. “We are targeting terrorist groups in Gaza and take great care to avoid civilian harm. We regret any injury to non-combatants.”
Thursday’s incident has reignited international scrutiny, particularly following a deadly event in March when IDF forces mistakenly killed 14 Red Crescent medics near Rafah. A recent IDF investigation labeled it one of the conflict’s gravest identification failures, citing multiple breaches of protocol and resulting in disciplinary action against senior officers.
While Israeli officials have frequently cited the use of ambulances and hospitals by Hamas to shield operations, investigators emphasized that such context did not apply in the March incident—and cannot be used retroactively to justify unlawful strikes on marked humanitarian teams.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the ICRC and other organizations are calling for renewed commitment to international law and protection for those providing life-saving aid in conflict zones.
