As eight Emergency Response Technicians from PRCS were today found killed after being missing since 23 March, Amnesty International Australia urges the international community to take urgent, immediate and decisive action to restore a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and to protect and defend civilians, humanitarians, medical workers and journalists who are specifically protected under international humanitarian law.
The eight Emergency Response Technicians are from the Palestine Red Crescent as well as six Civil Defence Members and one member of the United Nations bringing the total to 15 bodies.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) over 400 humanitarians, including 289 UN workers, 1060 medical workers, including 34 Palestinian Red Crescent staff and volunteers, and 209 journalists have been killed to date. They are, and should never be, a target.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson says:
“No one and nowhere is safe in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“Today’s news is devastating. The brave members of the Palestine Red Crescent have been working day and night to provide lifesaving aid in Gaza. First responders take tremendous risk trying to reach causalities and those in need.”
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson
“Despite their protected status under the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, Israeli Forces continue to target healthcare workers including targeting, torturing, disappearing of killing members of PRCS and other healthcare workers. Ambulances and hospitals continue to come under fire and be destroyed.
“The courageous humanitarians, healthcare workers supporting the 1.9 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza urgently need protection from the international community who must enforce international humanitarian law that defines them as not being a target.
“Israel’s attempt to silence the journalists that remain in Gaza documenting human rights violations and shining a light to the World it maintains its brutal system of occupation, apartheid and impunity for its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“All of these individuals are protected under international humanitarian law. They are not and should never be a target.
“Amnesty International Australia calls on international community to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, enforce the ICC arrest warrants against Israeli leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarians, healthcare workers and journalists.
“We need an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Perpretrators must be brought to trial. Justice cannot wait.”
“The longer impunity prevails, the more international law and the Geneva Conventions become irrelevant. States themselves designed international human rights and humanitarian law to preserve, defend and guarantee our common humanity. Failure to do so will only lead to more instability, aggression and conflict, with civilians paying the ultimate price – with their lives.”
The targeting of humanitarians — attacks on aid workers and relief efforts
Israeli forces continue to attack and obstruct humanitarian efforts, violating international law and placing 1.9 million lives at risk. In a flagrant act of disregard for human life, Israel has re-imposed a total siege on Gaza, blocking the entry of humanitarian aid, medicine, and essential supplies such as food and fuel. Electricity has been cut off. UNRWA remains banned from operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The United Nations announced the withdrawal of staff from Gaza last week after an Israeli tank strike targeted a UN compound in Deir el-Balah, killing a staff member and severely injuring six others. They can no longer guarantee the safety of their teams on the ground.
Israeli forces admitted to firing upon the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters in Rafah, jeopardising critical humanitarian operations, including its critical field hospital.
On 23 March, members of the PRCS came under heavy gunfire while attempting to evacuate wounded civilians. Today, they were found dead. Their four ambulances were discovered to be destroyed and buried under sand. PRCS have stated that Israel deliberately targeted them while performing their humanitarian duties. A nine Paramedic remains missing, believed to be detained.
Israel also detained three MAA workers delivering meals at Al Aqsa Mosque. They now remain under house arrest.
Israel’s assault on Gaza’s medical system
Medical professionals in Gaza face unimaginable conditions as hospitals are bombed, doctors are detained, tortured or disappeared and the sick and injured are left without urgent care. Al-Shifa Hospital, once Gaza’s largest medical complex, has been devastated by repeated Israeli military assaults and now has only three beds available for the wounded. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Gaza’s only specialised cancer treatment centre, has been completely destroyed.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has been imprisoned at the Sde Teiman Detention Centre since 27 December 2024. His lawyer, Ghaid Qassem, reports that he has been subjected to relentless physical and psychological torture, enduring interrogation sessions lasting 8-10 hours.
Australians, including Dr Mohammed Mustafa, currently on his second volunteer medical mission with Palestinian Australian and New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) risks their lives every day as they walk to and from their safe house to Al Aqsa Hospital as their vehicle remains trapped in the North of Gaza as there is no fuel.
“Every day in Gaza is a roll of the dice. We are on edge constantly. Even hospitals are not safe”
Dr Mohammed Mustafa, currently on his second volunteer medical mission with Palestinian Australian and New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA)
Silencing truth — Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists
Israel’s relentless attacks have also specifically targeted journalists, killing those who work to document the atrocities unfolding in Gaza.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hossam Shabat, 23, was assassinated in an Israeli strike in Northern Gaza. Palestine Today TV reporter Mohammed Mansour was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his apartment in Khan Younis, along with his wife and child.
Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal was violently attacked by Israeli settlers. Israel’s systematic efforts to silence those who document truth are part of a broader strategy to maintain apartheid and impunity.
Journalists play a crucial role in bearing witness, truth telling and documenting human rights violations. Despite mounting evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and Amnesty’s determination that Israel has been and is practicing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, the international community has failed to act leaving civilians to pay the ultimate price – with their lives. 1.9 million Palestinian women, men and children are once again under relentless bombardment after Israel unilaterally shattered the ceasefire, are being starved as no aid has entered Gaza since 3 March, the medical system has collapsed and those working to support Palestinians do so in the most dangerous of conditions.
Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has already claimed over 50,000 lives, wounded over 113,000 and thousands more remain buried under rubble.
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