Israel invents claims to justify targeting medics: Gaza Civil Defence
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The General Directorate of Civil Defence in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday denied claims by the Israeli army that an ambulance was used to “transport Palestinian fighters”, saying the allegations are completely false.
In a press statement, the directorate said that ambulances have never been used by any armed groups.
It explained that the people shown in footage released by Israel were members of the civil police carrying their personal weapons. They were carrying out their duties by helping to clear the way for ambulances while wounded people were being transported, not as Israel has claimed.
The directorate stressed that Israel deliberately fabricates images and selectively edits video clips in an attempt to mislead public opinion and justify its ongoing crimes against civilians. These include attacks on medical teams, paramedics and ambulances while they are carrying out their humanitarian work.
Gaza Civil Defence said it remains fully committed to working in line with international laws and conventions. It called on human rights and media organisations to expose these false claims and to help protect humanitarian workers operating in the field.
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Red Cross ‘outraged’ over killing of Palestinian paramedic in Gaza
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Wednesday said it is “outraged” by the killing of a Palestinian paramedic during a humanitarian mission in southern Gaza, calling the death a violation of protections for medical and aid workers, Anadolu reports.
Hussein Hassan Hussein Al-Samiri, a paramedic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was killed while performing life-saving duties in Khan Younis during an attack in the Al-Mawasi area on Wednesday, the organization said in a statement.
Extending condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, the IFRC expressed “full solidarity” with the PRCS.
“Humanitarian workers and medical personnel must be respected and protected at all times to ensure life-saving assistance can reach people in need,” it said.
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It stressed that the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems are “symbols of protection, humanity, neutrality, and hope,” yet staff and volunteers are “too often” killed while carrying out emergency work.
“The loss of Hussein is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those who dedicate their lives to helping others,” the IFRC said, calling the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel “a legal and moral obligation.”
According to the federation, the latest death brings the number of PRCS staff and volunteers killed in the line of duty to 30 in Gaza and two in the West Bank since October 2023.
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
- UN rapporteur says Israel has no authority over Palestinians and urges end to impunity
- Gaza amputee football team names Pep Guardiola honorary coach
- Israeli admission accuses Ben Gvir of fuelling chaos among Arab citizens
- Israel invents claims to justify targeting medics: Gaza Civil Defence
- Red Cross ‘outraged’ over killing of Palestinian paramedic in Gaza
- Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against former Israeli soldier for war crimes in Gaza
- Israeli army damages Palestinian school in West Bank raid
- Turkiye, Egypt working together on Gaza peace efforts, Libya stability, says President Erdogan
- UN experts urge Israel to withdraw proposed mandatory death penalty bill
- ‘This is our problem’: Guardiola speaks out on Gaza genocide, global injustice
Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against former Israeli soldier for war crimes in Gaza
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Hind Rajab Foundation on Wednesday filed a complaint in the US seeking a criminal investigation into war crimes and genocidal acts by Adi Karni, a former Israeli army sergeant, during Israel’s war on Gaza, Anadolu reports.
“This U.S. filing follows earlier complaints filed by HRF in multiple jurisdictions, including Peru, where a formal criminal investigation is already open against Karni for genocide,” the foundation said in a statement.
It added that the HRF has also submitted filings concerning Karni in several other countries, “as part of its strategy to ensure that jurisdiction is activated wherever he travels.”
HRF said Karni is currently present in the US and is scheduled to speak publicly at Boston University this evening, “a fact that directly engages U.S. jurisdiction and heightens the urgency of the filing.”
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It noted that the complaint is based on an HRF investigative report reporting that Karni took part in demolishing civilian infrastructure and religious sites in Gaza, was involved in systematic destruction by his unit, and later publicly denied the existence of civilians while justifying attacks on civilian objects.
“The report concludes that this conduct may constitute war crimes, and, when assessed in its broader context, contribute to the legal elements of crimes against humanity and genocide,” it added.
HRF added that the filing against Adi Karni forms part of HRF’s broader mandate to “ensure that international crimes are investigated wherever jurisdiction exists, and that no country—whether in Europe, the Americas, or elsewhere—becomes a safe haven for impunity.”
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
- UN rapporteur says Israel has no authority over Palestinians and urges end to impunity
- Gaza amputee football team names Pep Guardiola honorary coach
- Israeli admission accuses Ben Gvir of fuelling chaos among Arab citizens
- Israel invents claims to justify targeting medics: Gaza Civil Defence
- Red Cross ‘outraged’ over killing of Palestinian paramedic in Gaza
- Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against former Israeli soldier for war crimes in Gaza
- Israeli army damages Palestinian school in West Bank raid
- Turkiye, Egypt working together on Gaza peace efforts, Libya stability, says President Erdogan
- UN experts urge Israel to withdraw proposed mandatory death penalty bill
- ‘This is our problem’: Guardiola speaks out on Gaza genocide, global injustice