ALWAGHT- The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has strongly denounced the Israeli military's attacks on Palestinian Civil Defense teams and paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Rafah, southern Gaza, labeling the assaults a “full-fledged war crime.”
Hamas condemned the discovery of 15 first responders’ bodies in Rafah, found buried beside their destroyed vehicles days after losing contact with them. The group denounced the deliberate targeting of emergency workers as a grave violation of the laws of war and part of Israel’s continued attacks on civilians in Gaza. Hamas also criticized the international community for its silence, calling it unacceptable complicity.
The movement urged the UN, humanitarian organizations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to launch an urgent investigation into the attacks. Reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and Civil Defense indicated that Israeli forces directly targeted the emergency personnel, destroying their vehicles and equipment, and later used heavy machinery to conceal the bodies. Five Civil Defense workers remain missing.
The Israeli military’s recent ground and air offensive in Rafah has led to numerous civilian casualties and trapped thousands, including rescue teams. The attack is part of a broader Israeli campaign that began on March 18, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians and injured more than 114,000 since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
