The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed in a statement to AFP that there is a concerning trend of increasing attacks on humanitarian workers in Gaza and Sudan. This comes after the tragic deaths of five Red Crescent volunteers in Sudan earlier this week.
Pierre Krahenbuhl, speaking in Manama, Bahrain, expressed alarm over the escalating violence targeting aid workers not only in Sudan and Gaza but in other regions as well. He highlighted the disturbing reports of 460 casualties at the remaining operational hospital in El-Fasher, which recently came under control of Sudanese paramilitaries. This development has raised fears of a resurgence of ethnically motivated atrocities reminiscent of two decades ago.
Krahenbuhl also refuted Israeli claims that ICRC visits to Palestinian detainees posed a security risk. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had recently prohibited the ICRC from visiting Palestinians held under a law allowing indefinite detention, citing national security concerns due to the ongoing conflict. However, Krahenbuhl emphasized that the ICRC’s visits do not pose any security threat to Israel.
The conflict in Gaza has taken a heavy toll, with over 68,000 Palestinian casualties reported by health authorities in the region. The ceasefire in Gaza has brought some relief from the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes and the blockade. However, Palestinians continue to face challenges due to a lack of financial resources, leading to vulnerability to exploitation by opportunistic parties. The conflict in Gaza was initiated after fighters associated with Hamas launched attacks in southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in significant casualties.