The Palestinian Civil Defence has issued a stark warning regarding potential new atrocities as Israeli forces intensify their military actions in Gaza. This follows the recent killings of 15 of their personnel and Red Crescent staff in Rafah, an act that has drawn international condemnation.

In a statement, the Civil Defence expressed deep sorrow for the loss of five of their members, who were executed by Israeli forces in western Rafah. They described this act as a profound violation of humanity and a failure to uphold basic human rights principles. The Civil Defence is currently compiling a technical report on these incidents, which will be shared with global human rights organisations to highlight the ongoing brutality faced by humanitarian workers in the region.

They urged the international community, including the International Civil Defence Organisation and various human rights institutions, to take immediate and effective action against these violations, which they categorise as war crimes and acts of genocide. The Civil Defence emphasised that the execution of humanitarian service providers must not go unchallenged and called for global solidarity to condemn these actions.

As the violence continues unabated, Israeli forces have maintained their bombardment of residential areas, shelters, and tents housing displaced persons across Gaza. Palestinian medical sources report that over 35 civilians, primarily women and children, have been killed since Monday morning, with many more injured. Since March 18, the death toll has surged to 1,001, while the broader conflict that began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a staggering total of 50,357 deaths and 114,400 injuries, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health in Gaza.