GAZA CITY — An international aid organization has accused Israel of killing one of their staff members with a targeted strike at its Gaza headquarters, as the humanitarian situation deepens amid continued fighting.
On Saturday morning, an aid group issued a statement detailing how one of its workers, identified only as Palestinian national, had been killed when Israeli forces reportedly struck their operational center in central Gaza late Friday night. For security reasons, they requested anonymity for this incident as their victim had been involved with food and medical supply distribution services.
“Our hearts are broken and outraged by the senseless killing of one of our colleagues,” stated the group. “This strike hit an obviously marked humanitarian facility; however, we had provided its location coordinates to Israeli authorities prior to any tragedy occurring.
According to an aid group, the headquarters had been used as a distribution point for essential supplies to civilians displaced from conflict areas and had no connection with any militant activity in the region.
Israeli forces have not publicly confirmed that they struck at the aid group’s headquarters; however, on Saturday they issued a broad statement alleging they carried out “precision operations” across Gaza against what it described as Hamas command posts, weapons caches, and militant tunnels.
“We take reports of harm to humanitarian workers seriously and are currently reviewing this incident,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced, while noting Hamas continues its activities within civilian areas thereby complicating military efforts.
OCHA expressed grave concern over this incident and called for an independent inquiry to take place.
“Humanitarian workers and facilities must be protected under international law,” stated UN humanitarian coordinator Lynn Hastings. This incident in Gaza marks not the first time humanitarian sites have come under attack by militants; these attacks must cease immediately.
Over 170 humanitarian workers – both medical staff and aid volunteers – have been killed since the start of Israel-Hamas fighting in October 2023, according to World Health Organization and other aid monitoring agencies.
Gazan civilians are facing severe shortages of food, water and medical care due to ongoing conflict. Over 80% of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have been uprooted from their homes by aerial bombardments and ground fighting, prompting international aid agencies to struggle delivering lifesaving supplies despite aerial bombardments and ground fighting.
Aid group which lost worker has suspended operations in area where strike occurred due to safety concerns for remaining staff and has called upon world leaders to better protect humanitarian corridors and personnel.
“This loss is tragic for our organization and an irreparable setback to the people we seek to assist,” according to the group.
As the war drags on without any sign of stopping, humanitarian agencies warn that attacks against their workers and facilities are seriously impeding their ability to provide vital assistance to Gazan civilians.