Israeli strike on Palestine Red Crescent headquarters kills staffer amid Gaza aid crisis
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said its facility is “well known” to the Israeli military and “clearly marked with the protective red emblem”, and shared a video showing flames engulfing the building, thick smoke, and large patches of blood on the floor.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has condemned what it called a “deliberate” Israeli strike on its headquarters in Khan Younis, which killed one staff member and injured three others.
The attack occurred early Sunday morning, sparking a fire inside the building.
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“This was not a mistake. We renew our call for accountability and for the protection of all humanitarian and medical personnel,” the organisation said in a statement on X.
The PRCS identified the staff member killed as Omar Isleem and said it was “heartbroken” by his death. Among the injured were two PRCS staffers and a civilian who was trying to put out the fire.
According to the PRCS, the location of its facility is “well known” to the Israeli military and is “clearly marked with the protective red emblem”. The group also released a video showing flames engulfing parts of the building, smoke billowing, and large patches of blood on the floor.
When questioned by the BBC about the strike, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had “no knowledge about either artillery or any air strikes” in that area.
The attack comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations reports that at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed since late May while trying to access food aid, many near distribution sites run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Of these, 38 Palestinians were reportedly killed just on Saturday near GHF facilities.
GHF has rejected the UN’s fatality figures for its sites. Meanwhile, Israel has blamed Hamas for the violence near aid centres and insists it does not intentionally target civilians.
Humanitarian groups have consistently accused Israel of obstructing aid deliveries. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, 175 people—including 93 children—have died from starvation and malnutrition.
Israel denies deliberately blocking aid and instead blames the UN and other humanitarian agencies for what it describes as ineffective aid distribution.
Deaths persist
Although Israel announced “tactical pauses” in military operations starting July 27 to facilitate aid access, deaths near food distribution points have persisted.
The UN Human Rights Office says 105 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday and Thursday alone while seeking food.
On Saturday, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said Gaza was experiencing a famine exacerbated by efforts to undermine the UN-led aid system in favour of the GHF.
“Sidelining and weakening UNRWA has nothing to do with claims of aid diversion to armed groups,” Lazzarini posted on X.
“It is a deliberate measure to collectively pressure and punish Palestinians for living in Gaza.”
UNICEF has also raised the alarm, warning that Gaza has surpassed famine thresholds, with 320,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.
“We are at a crossroads, and the choices made now will determine whether tens of thousands of children live or die,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s deputy executive director for humanitarian action and supply operations, after a visit to Gaza, Israel, and the occupied West Bank.
Total death toll
In March, eight Red Crescent workers, six Gaza civil defence staff, and one UNRWA employee were killed in a separate Israeli strike in southern Gaza, according to the UN humanitarian office, OCHA.
The latest figures from Gaza’s health ministry put the total death toll from Israel’s military campaign at 60,332—most of them civilians—since the war began in response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and led to the capture of 251 hostages.
On Saturday, just 36 aid trucks entered Gaza—far below the 600 trucks the local Government Media Office says are needed daily to meet minimum humanitarian needs.
Despite recent airdrops from countries including Jordan, Egypt, France, Germany, Spain, and the UAE, aid organisations say this remains insufficient.
Meanwhile, the PRCS has renewed its call on the international community to protect aid workers and hold those responsible for the attack on its staff accountable.
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