In a strong condemnation of recent events in Rafah, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has called for a global investigation into the attack that resulted in the deaths of 15 paramedics. The targeting of Civil Defence and Red Crescent personnel while they were performing their vital humanitarian roles has been described by Hamas as a serious war crime and a stark violation of international law.

Hamas issued a statement demanding that an international committee be established to investigate this egregious incident, which occurred on March 23 when Israeli airstrikes targeted ambulances and a fire truck engaged in emergency response following prior shelling in the region. The movement accused the Israeli forces of committing a massacre against the paramedics and condemned the attack as a blatant violation of humanitarian treaties.

The statement highlighted the ongoing brutality faced by medical teams in Gaza, asserting that such actions reveal a disregard for the fundamental humanitarian principles upheld by the international community. Moreover, Hamas emphasized that the silence of global powers in the face of these atrocities amounts to complicity in what it termed a brutal genocide.

Hamas has urged the United Nations and humanitarian organisations, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross, to take immediate action in establishing a thorough investigation and to facilitate access to Rafah. This call comes amid growing concerns for the thousands of civilians who have lost contact with the outside world amidst the escalating violence.