The PRCS condemns the targeting of its branch in Khan Younis by Israeli snipers today and the continuation of the siege of Al-Amal Hospital and headquarters of the Society for the twelfth consecutive day [EN/AR]

The Palestine Red Crescent Society condemns the targeting of its branch in Khan Younis by Israeli snipers today and the continuation of the siege of Al-Amal Hospital and the headquarters of the Society there for the twelfth consecutive day

Al-Bireh-Gaza, 2/2/2024 The Palestine Red Crescent Society condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ opening fire directly on the Society's building in Khan Younis and AlAmal Hospital today, which houses thousands of displaced people leading to the death of three displaced persons and colleague Hedaya Hamad, Director of the Youth and Volunteers Department while fulfilling her humanitarian duty. In addition to the injury of 6 others, the occupation continues to target and siege Al-Amal Hospital and the PRCS headquarters for the twelfth consecutive day. The Occupation’s heavy shelling and direct shooting at the buildings of the Society continues to prevent the exit or entry of anyone to the hospital and the Society’s buildings, including the movement of ambulance and relief crews.

PRCS views with utmost seriousness the escalating attacks by the occupation on its facilities in Khan Yunis, resulting in the killing of 43 people, including three of our team members, and the injury of 153 others, due to their targeting inside PRCS’s branch during the continuous twelve days of siege and targeting.

The humanitarian situation inside Al-Amal Hospital has become tragic, as the hospital suffers from severe shortages of oxygen, surgical supplies, antibiotics, medicines for people with chronic diseases and other medical supplies. In addition to the depleting fuel supplies needed to ensure the continuity of the electricity generator, and the severe scarcity of food available to patients, medical staff and displaced people.

Accordingly, PRCS calls for the need to open an urgent humanitarian corridor to evacuate the displaced who wish to leave the place in light of the dangerous conditions they live in after they were displaced to our headquarters as a safe place for them, in addition to evacuating the sick and wounded with serious injuries for treatment in other hospitals, otherwise they will lose their lives in light of the continued siege of the hospital.

The PRCS holds the Occupation fully responsible for the lives of its besieged crews and more than a hundred patients and wounded receiving treatment inside Al-Amal Hospital, in addition to more than 7,000 displaced people inside the hospital building and the society's buildings. The PRCS renews its appeals to the international community and UN institutions to take immediate action to provide protection for our teams working in Khan Yunis, and to oblige the occupation to respect the Red Crescent emblem and protect civilians and medical and humanitarian workers in accordance with international humanitarian law.