According to a report from the NGO, the Israeli army has carried out at least eight strikes against humanitarian workers in the Palestinian enclave since October 7, 2023.
:quality(50)/2023/07/07/64a7df4c5fe71_placeholder-36b69ec8.png)
Published
Update
Reading time: 1 min
:quality(50)/2024/05/14/gaza-664324d493f56139376434.jpg)
Non-governmental organizations have had to reduce their action in the Gaza Strip to ensure their security, while the need for humanitarian aid has never been so vital within the Palestinian enclave. This is what emerges from a new report from Human Rights Watch, published Tuesday May 14. The international organization establishes that NGOs are also targeted by the Israeli army. Despite international law and communications protocols meant to protect humanitarians.
Among the symbols of this extreme fragility of humanitarians in this war in the Gaza Strip, there is the death, a little over a month ago, of seven staff from the American NGO World Central Kitchen, killed in drone strikes. The NGO had, however, warned the Israeli army of its movement into Gaza.
But in reality there is no guaranteed protection. “Each time, the coordinates had been communicated in advance to the Israeli armyindicates Ahmed Benchemsi spokesperson for Human Rights Watch. And a common point also in eight cases, the Israeli army not only knew where the NGOs in question were – which did not prevent them from bombing them – but also without warning. There’s clearly a problem.”
According to the NGO, eight Israeli strikes targeted humanitarian organizations. Since October 7, and the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, 31 staff from these NGOs have been killed or injured. Médecin Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the organizations most affected, which has consequences on activity. “The situation is exceptionalexplains Michel Lacharité, head of emergency operations for MSF. We evacuated hospitals and healthcare facilities twelve times. We are therefore in a catastrophic situation where there is a shortage of beds and MSF must close them for security reasons.”
Including UN agencies, more than 250 humanitarian workers have been killed by the Israeli army. This report could feed the international criminal court. Israel did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s letter, which questions Israel’s ability to meet the requirements of international law.