KUALA LUMPUR – A driver was injured and at least two trucks were damaged after a convoy carrying lifesaving medical supplies to Gaza hospitals was attacked by Israeli forces.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Israel and the occupied territories tweeted early this morning that its five-truck humanitarian convoy in Gaza City came under fire.
“Two trucks were damaged, and a driver was lightly wounded.”
They were carrying lifesaving medical supplies to health facilities, including the Palestine Red Crescent’s (PRCS) Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza.
The ICRC also reiterated that under international law, humanitarian workers must be protected.
Meanwhile, PRCS continues to urge international health and humanitarian organisations to promptly deliver vital assistance and essential supplies to Gaza and the northern region.
“Gaza hospitals are on the verge of running out of fuel, which could lead to the shutdown of essential medical services.
“The efforts to keep these hospitals running have been pushed to the limit, and it is crucial that immediate action is taken to ensure a continuous supply of fuel to save lives,” it said after the attack on the ICRC convoy.
Earlier, Israeli airstrikes also targeted the building opposite the Al-Quds Hospital as fear rose that the hospital would be next after Israeli forces last month warned Palestinians to evacuate the facility.
Yesterday, it was reported that the fuel reserves at Al-Quds Hospital will run out in 48 hours, as Israel has been barring the entry of fuel since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Once fuel reserves at the hospital run out, vital equipment, such as resuscitation equipment, baby incubators, and intensive care units, will shut down.
Since the start of the bombardment by Israel three weeks ago, more than 14,000 displaced Palestinians have been sheltering at the hospital.
More than 10,000 Palestinians, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have been killed in Israeli bombardments.
According to official figures, the Israeli death toll is nearly 1,600. – November 8, 2023