Geneva, 02 February 2024:The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is shocked and deeply saddened by the killing of three members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip - one staff member and one volunteer on 31 January 2024 and one staff member on 2 February 2024.In the first incident, two colleagues, Naeem Hasan Al-Jabali and Khalid Kulab, were both near the gate of the PRCS Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis when they were killed. Today, Hedaya Hamad was killed at the PRCS headquarters, which is in the same compound as the Al-Amal hospital.These deaths came after several days of shelling and fighting around the hospital which hindered access to the premises and created panic and distress among patients and thousands of displaced people.The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to their friends and colleagues at the Palestine Red Crescent Society.Under International Humanitarian Law, hospitals, ambulances, healthcare workers, and their patients must be respected and protected in every situation.Any attack on healthcare workers, ambulances, and medical facilities is unacceptable.We strongly reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems and the crucial humanitarian services they represent.The IFRC stands with the PRCS, urging protection for all medical facilities and workers. We commend the dedication of PRCS volunteers and paramedics, many of whom have lost family members or been affected yet continue to respond.Since the beginning of the conflict, the IFRC network has lost 14 members. Eleven PRCS staff and volunteers have been killed, and three from Israel’s Magen David Adom. This is unacceptable.For more information or to request an interview, contact:[email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 74468In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367Mrinalini Santhanam +41 76 381 5006Andrew Thomas +41 76 367 6587

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is devastated to confirm the killing of an on-duty Ethiopian Red Cross staff member in the northern Tigray region of the country. Woldu Aregawi Berha – an ambulance driver – was shot while in a vehicle clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem. He was severely injured and died before reaching hospital. The IFRC condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing. Healthcare workers must be respected and protected in every situation. The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the man’s family and to his colleagues in the Ethiopian Red Cross. Since the start of the year, seven members of the IFRC network teams lost their lives while carrying out their life-saving humanitarian work. This is unacceptable. They are #NotATarget.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing of four dedicated ambulance team members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the two patients they were transporting. They were killed when the ambulance was hit on the 10th of January 2024. Youssef Abu Muammar was the ambulance’s driver. Fadi Fouad Al-Maani was a paramedic. Islam Abu Riyala was a first responder, while Fouad Abu Khamash was a volunteer. All were killed while on duty, in a vehicle clearly marked with the protective Red Crescent emblem. These deaths are shocking and completely unacceptable. Under International Humanitarian Law, ambulances, healthcare workers and their patients must be respected and protected. Tragically Youssef, Islam, Fadi and Fouad bring to eight the number of PRCS staff and volunteers killed on duty in Gaza since October. We send our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and all those in the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Healthcare facilities and healthcare workers must be protected and respected in every situation. Any attack onhealth care workers, ambulances, and medical facilities is unacceptable. We forcefully reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Crescent emblem and the crucial humanitarian services it represents. More information, [email protected] In Beirut: Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06 Andrew Thomas: +41 76 367 65 87

Geneva/Beirut, 5 January 2024 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is appalled by the continuous shelling of the Al-Amal Hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Yunis. These strikes have led to the loss of innocent civilian lives, including a five-day old infant, and displaced thousands who were taking shelter at the hospital. One of our colleagues, a volunteer from the PRCS emergency medical services was injured in the strike, which is in addition to the 26 who have been injured since the beginning of the escalation of hostilities and the four colleagues who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. After the north of Gaza health services were largely destroyed, the health care system in the southern part of the Gaza Strip is on the brink of collapse. Most hospitals in the north, including PRCS's Al-Quds hospital, have ceased operations due to fuel shortages, lack of medicines, medical equipment, and safe access. Al-Amal Hospital, one of the few still functioning in the south, is duly marked by the Red Crescent emblem. The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems, symbolize neutral and independent humanitarian assistance at all times, and guarantee protection in times of conflict and disaster around the world. Continuous shelling, coupled with a dire shortage of fuel and supplies, has pushed the health facility to its limits. The continuous bombardments have disrupted PRCS ambulances and paramedics, hindering vital medical aid and basic lifesaving emergency care. Access to medical care is a basic right, and blocking these services is unacceptable. The IFRC stands with the PRCS, urging protection for all medical facilities and workers. We commend the bravery of PRCS volunteers and paramedics, many of whom have lost family members or been detained, yet continue to respond selflessly. We call on all parties to uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. That means the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and facilities. We call for rapid and unimpeded passage for humanitarian aid, and safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. In any conflict or crisis, access to health care is a question of life or death. People in Gaza have suffered enough, and healthcare is one of the last remaining beacons of hope. It’s a humanitarian and moral imperative to ensure the people of Gaza can access health care during this period of intense conflict. More information, contact [email protected] In Beirut: Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06

Excellencies, The human suffering in Gaza is a permanent stain on our shared humanity. A month since we last met, we face a collective moral failure to forge political and peaceful solutions to end this conflict, release all hostages, protect civilians and civilian infrastructures. On the ground, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the Egyptian Red Crescent across the border work tirelessly to save lives and provide medical aid, food, and relief. The Egyptian Red Crescent has delivered nearly 3000 trucks of medical, food and relief supplies into Gaza while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society continues to provide emergency health services and coordinate the receipt and delivery of aid. They are operating under constant severe restrictions and life-threatening danger. As we sadly know, the Palestine Red Crescent Society just lost another volunteer this week and a staff member was injured. The IFRC is supporting these efforts. In partnership with ECHO, we have delivered 890 tons of supplies through our humanitarian air bridge for Gaza. Let’s be unequivocal--no amount of humanitarian assistance or funding alone will stop the destruction of Gaza and its people without protection and a political solution. In this darkest hour, we call on you to turn these urgent asks into powerful actions: De-escalation - Prioritize concrete solutions to stop the bloodshed and establish lasting peace. This will allow scaling up of aid efforts so that hospitals, ambulances, water facilities, and waste management can function. Protection- Ensure neutral, independent humanitarian action with full respect of international humanitarian law. Protect civilians and healthcare workers. Access - Grant unhindered and safe access to reach all parts of Gaza. Thank you.

Excellencies, No words adequately capture the depth of human suffering in Gaza. In this conflict, civilians, particularly children and women and healthcare workers pay the heaviest burden, some losing their lives, casting a lasting moral shadow upon us all for generations to come. This suffering must end. Now. Israel has suffered heartbreaking human loss, including the taking of hostages which must end now. Magen David Adom in Israel is providing vital assistance, ambulance and health services. The Palestine Red Crescent Society is working around the clock with all affected communities in Gaza to provide vital humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support. They do so fearlessly with unseen dedication in extremely dangerous situations. The ICRC is playing a critical role, and we are coordinating closely as a Movement. Today I am here with Dr Younis Alkhatib, President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. PRCS is the leading Emergency Medical Service provider and is central to the receipt, delivery and coordination of aid in Gaza. However, they operate under constant threat to their lives, lack of access and inadequate relief and medical supplies. In these difficult situations, the role of the local actors like the Red Cross and Red Crescent becomes central as they have the trust of the communities and of the authorities. We see this in the work of the Egyptian Red Crescent as well as in the preparatory work of National Societies in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and more. The IFRC is supporting and coordinating these national efforts while working hard to augment their capacities as well as partnering with ECHO for a humanitarian air bridge for Gaza. Today we call for three things and ask for your influence to– Protection to ensure neutral, independent humanitarian action of our member National Societies at local level as per IHL. Access to ensure unhindered and safe access for National Societies to reach all parts of Gaza including the north. Assistance to scale up aid efforts unconditionally so that hospitals, ambulances, water facilities, and waste management can function. No matter how dark the hour, we must support one another and be a collective beacon of hope. Thank you.

A month since the onsetof violence across Israel and Palestine, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) calls forsafe and unhindered access across the Gaza Stripand the release of hostages seized during the conflict. It also calls upon the diplomatic community to accelerate efforts towards a longer-term peace agreement and a massive scaling up of humanitarian assistance, including fuel. The Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, both members of the IFRC network, have been responding since the beginning of the hostilities. Staff and volunteers of both National Societies have been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts. And they have seen the violence firsthand. Many have lost friends and family members. Seven members, three of MDA and four of PRCS, have lost their own lives while helping others; many more have been injured. The IFRC repeats its calls for all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and immediately cease indiscriminate attacks. That means the protection of civilians, healthcare workers and facilities,humanitarian first responders, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, rapid and unimpeded passage for humanitarian aid, including fuel, throughout the entire Gaza Strip and safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. Civilians, humanitarian aid workers, hospitals and ambulances are not targets and must be protected. It is not possible to evacuate patients and those who care for themfromhospitals; we ask for an end to demands to the contrary. The last month has been the most devastating period of violence ever across Israel and Palestine, killing around twelve thousand people and gravely injuring many more, mostly women and children. The siege of Gaza has caused immense suffering to more than two million people. Both the violence and the siege need to end. We call on all parties forsafe and unhindered access across the Gaza Stripand the release of hostages. Now.