22 killed in shelling near ICRC office in Gaza

New Delhi, June 22: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported significant damage to its Gaza offices due to shelling, which resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals seeking refuge around the compound, media reported.

According to an ICRC statement, “Heavy-calibre projectiles landed within meters of the office and residences of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday afternoon.” The statement emphasised that all parties involved in the conflict have a duty to protect civilians and humanitarian facilities from harm.

An Israel defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson, in a statement to AFP, mentioned that initial investigations found “no indication” of IDF involvement in the strike but noted that the incident is still “under review.”

The ICRC detailed that the strike caused structural damage to its office, surrounded by hundreds of displaced civilians, including many Palestinian colleagues.

The nearby Red Cross Field Hospital faced a mass casualty event, receiving 22 deceased and 45 injured individuals, with more casualties expected.

The ICRC labelled this a “grave security incident” among several recent occurrences, condemning the threats to both humanitarian workers and civilians. The Gaza health ministry reported slightly higher figures, stating that 25 people were killed and 50 injured, attributing the shelling to Israeli forces.

This incident is part of the broader conflict that escalated following an unprecedented attack on southern Israel by Palestinian armed groups on October 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and 251 hostages taken. Since then, over 37,390 people have been killed in Gaza.

In related developments, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has cautioned against the increasing hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah, warning of potential regional and global catastrophe. He urged for immediate de-escalation, highlighting that Lebanon should not turn into “another Gaza.”

The region has witnessed a series of cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Iran-backed group declaring its support for Hamas in Gaza through its actions.