The Red Cross expressed deep concern on Saturday regarding the situation of nine members of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance team who have been unaccounted for in Gaza for the past week.
The international humanitarian organization reported that it has lost all communication with the crew since they were caught in intense gunfire while working in Rafah during the early hours of March 23, as stated in their announcement.
“It is crucial to obtain information and facilitate access to ensure the safe return of these humanitarian workers to their families, who are enduring a nightmare without knowing if their loved ones are safe,” the statement emphasized.
According to the United Nations, over 1,060 healthcare professionals have lost their lives in the eighteen months following Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which began after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli reports indicate that Hamas killed 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and took more than 250 hostages.
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Health authorities in Gaza report that more than 50,000 people have died in the region, with the majority being civilians. The Israeli military claims it strives to minimize civilian casualties and has raised doubts about the death toll reported by health officials in the Hamas-controlled area.
