Deadly Israeli shelling near Red Crescent office in Gaza, 22 dead

International desk: The Israeli forces fired near the office of the International Committee of the Red Crescent (IRIC), an international humanitarian aid organization. At least 22 people were killed and 45 others were injured. All the victims took shelter around the office premises.

IRIC said in a statement that the shelling took place on Friday evening. Along with that, IRIC has once again called on all the warring parties in Gaza to refrain from attacking the offices of civilian and humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza. The ICRC office structure was damaged in the attack on Friday evening. Hundreds of displaced Palestinians took shelter around the office premises. Many of them were our colleagues.

The injured have been admitted to Red Crescent Field Hospital. According to the latest information, 22 people were killed and 45 others injured in the attack. "Several of the injured are in critical condition," the Red Crescent Committee said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a brief statement claimed that the attack was not carried out by the Israeli army. However, a spokesman said, the incident is being investigated by the IDF. After the surprise attack by Hamas fighters on Israeli territory on October 7, the IDF launched an operation in Gaza that day, which is still ongoing.

About 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last eight months of the IDF operation. Fifty-six percent of these victims were women and children. On the other hand, 1,200 people were killed in Israel by indiscriminate shooting by Hamas fighters in the last October 7 attack.