Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen reageert verslagen op de dood van 9 Palestijnse Rode Kruis collega’s

Beste persrelatie,

Hieronder de reactie van Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen op het nieuws dat negen collega's van het Palestijnse Rode Kruis om het leven zijn gekomen in Gaza. Na dagenlange onduidelijkheid over hun toestand kwam net het vreselijke nieuws binnen. Onder de persreactie vind je het persbericht van IFRC.

“Dit moet stoppen. Onze hulpverleners opereren in de veronderstelling dat ze veilig hun werk kunnen doen om humanitaire noden te verlichten. Ze droegen hun internationaal beschermde Rode Kruis emblemen, waren duidelijk herkenbaar. Een team van 9 hulpverleners dat omkomt. Het vult ons met stilte en onze gedachten zijn bij de collega’s en families. Hulpverleners zijn geen doelwit, maar moeten worden ontzien." zegt Vincent Verbeecke, woordvoerder Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen. In totaal zijn er sinds de escalatie op 7 oktober 2023, 31 hulpverleners van het Palestijnse Rode Kruis omgekomen.

IFRC condemns the killing of eight Palestine Red Crescent medics in Gaza

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is outraged at the deaths of eight medics from Palestine Red Crescent Society, killed on duty in Gaza.

An emergency medical team of nine disappeared along with their ambulances when they came under heavy fire in Al-Hashashin on 23 March. After seven days of silence and having access denied to the area of Rafah where they were last seen, the bodies of ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed Al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed Al Sharif and Rifatt Radwan were retrieved today (30 March). Ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra is still missing.

IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said: “I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians. They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. They should have returned to their families; they did not.”

“Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected. ​ ​

“Our network is in mourning, but this is not enough. Instead of another call on all parties to protect and respect humanitarians and civilians, I pose a question: ‘When will this stop? All parties must stop the killing, and all humanitarians must be protected.’”

This devastating incident represents the single most deadly attack on Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017.

Chapagain added: “The number of Palestine Red Crescent volunteers and staff killed since the start of this conflict is now 30. We stand with Palestine Red Crescent and the loved ones of those killed on this darkest of days.”

Persinfo: Vincent Verbeecke, 0489 234 743