Gaza health workers among dead as Israel’s bombardment intensifies

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported the recovery of 14 bodies of health workers in Rafah, Gaza, after its personnel came under intense Israeli fire last week.

This tragic loss highlights the peril faced by humanitarian staff amid the ongoing violence. The death toll continues to rise as Israeli airstrikes have escalated in Gaza, particularly on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, with at least 64 people, including children and women, confirmed killed, according to local health officials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has condemned the killings, saying the “devastating incident” represents the single most deadly attack on its workers anywhere in the world since 2017.

The Gaza Health Ministry has updated the region's death toll from Israel's ongoing military operations, now exceeding 50,277, with more than 114,000 others wounded. The figure, which had previously been adjusted to over 61,700 by Gaza's Government Media Office, continues to climb as thousands remain missing beneath the rubble, presumed dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on the situation, insisted that a lasting ceasefire could only be achieved if Hamas “lays down its weapons,” exiles its leaders, and hands over control of Gaza’s security to Israel. His statement marks the continuation of Israel’s demand for disarmament as a precondition to peace talks.

Meanwhile, the war’s deadly toll is also felt within Israel. The Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, left at least 1,139 Israelis dead and more than 200 taken captive, intensifying the already complex and tragic conflict between the two sides.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating, with civilian casualties mounting daily amid relentless airstrikes, further complicating efforts toward a ceasefire and peace.

By Vafa Guliyeva