Israeli assault on Gaza Red Crescent headquarters results in staff casualties, intensifying humanitarian predicament
In the context of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, the One Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Younis, Gaza, was attacked on the night of August 2-3, 2025. The incident resulted in the death of PRCS staff member Omar Isleem, injuries to three others, and a civilian who was assisting in extinguishing a fire at the site.
The attack, which took place in southern Gaza, reportedly struck the facility multiple times, including the second and ground floors. The PRCS teams were evacuating and working to contain the fire at the time.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, an aid organization based in Palestine, shared a video of the initial moments of the attack on social media. The video shows fires burning in a building and the floors covered in rubble.
The UN humanitarian office OCHA reported that eight staff members were killed in the attack. Six of the fatalities occurred among staff members of the Red Crescent, the Gaza civil defense agency, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. One employee of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees was among those killed.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have condemned the attack, emphasizing that the PRCS premises are protected under international humanitarian law. They further stated that humanitarian relief personnel and their equipment must never be targeted.
The tragic loss of eight lives adds to the wider toll on PRCS staff and volunteers, with 51 having lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, many while on duty and bearing the protective emblem.
The attack has sparked international outrage amid broader humanitarian concerns during the conflict in Gaza. The incident coincides with aid deliveries entering the region, increasing the vulnerability of first responders providing essential support to communities.
- The attack on the One Palestine Red Crescent Society headquarters in Khan Younis, Gaza, has raised concerns in the realm of politics and general news, as it has left society questioning the protection of humanitarian organizations during war-and-conflicts.
- The aftermath of the attack on the PRCS headquarters in Gaza has sheds light on the gravity of crime-and-justice issues, especially targeting humanitarian relief personnel and their equipment, which is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
