International law remains unenforced in Gaza one year after discovery of medics

UN Official Describes Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

A senior United Nations official, who worked in Palestine last year, has recounted the experience of coordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza. The official witnessed the disappearance and subsequent killing of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and Civil Defence responders in southern Gaza.

The incident occurred on March 30, when Israeli forces denied access to the area where the responders were last seen. The UN official and their colleagues found a mass grave marked with the light from one of the ambulances that had been crushed by Israeli forces. Forensic analysis of video and audio recordings has reconstructed the last moments of the responders’ lives.

The Israeli army dismissed the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade for filing an incomplete report, while another commander received a letter of reprimand. No individuals were charged in connection with the incident.

This was not an isolated event; PRCS had been targeted previously, including during the rescue attempt of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl who died from injuries sustained in a car riddled with bullet holes. The medics sent to save her were killed by troops despite prior coordination to allow the ambulance to arrive at the scene.

The UN official notes that coordination with Israeli forces did not protect the medics trying to reach Hind Rajab, but was instead used as justification for their killing. An evacuation order for Rafah was issued by Israeli forces after contact with the ambulance crew was lost, and even if ambulances were driving into an area of military operations, it is the Israeli army’s responsibility not to target civilians.

The humanitarian community had established a coordination system to help parties to the conflict fulfill their obligations. However, in Gaza, this system was allegedly used by Israeli authorities to control where aid reached and enable a free-fire approach from Israeli forces unless coordinated otherwise.

The official describes the situation as one of survival under attack, with people being ordered out of areas and everything needed for survival being destroyed. Hospitals were also targeted, including al-Shifa, where patients lay in the courtyard and family members combed through rubble looking for their loved ones.

In 2025, the UN Commission of Inquiry confirmed that Israeli authorities knew blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza would lead to the deaths of Palestinians. The official confirms this knowledge was shared with the commission.

Source: Al Jazeera