Israeli Strike Kills MSF Staff Family Members
The non-governmental organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) strongly denounced on Wednesday, in the strongest terms, an Israeli strike on one of its houses in southern Gaza, which killed two family members of one of its employees, according to News.ro.
An Israeli tank late Tuesday night fired at a house where some of its employees and members of the Al-Mawasi family live, in Khan Yunis, the scene of ground fighting, gunfire, and airstrikes in recent weeks, as stated in an MSF press release.
"This attack killed the daughter-in-law and wife of one of our colleagues and injured six people, including five women and children. The building, clearly marked with the MSF logo, was targeted with gunfire," the NGO stated, adding that 64 people were in the building at the time.
Ambulances coming to rescue the victims "were delayed for over two hours due to shellfire in the area" before being able to reach the scene and transfer the wounded to a field hospital in Rafah, at the southern end of Gaza.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by this deadly attack," said Meinie Nicolai, MSF's executive director, who is currently travelling in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military stated that it fired "during operations in Khan Yunis" at a building "identified" as housing "terrorist activities," but later "information indicated the deaths of two uninvolved civilians" in these alleged activities.
"The Israeli military regrets any harm caused to civilians and does everything in its power to operate with precision on the battlefield," the army added, stating that it has initiated an "analysis" of the incident.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
