By Abigael Gioche
In a press statement, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) confirmed the tragic deaths of at least five aid workers in southern Gaza amid escalating violence in the region.
The incident was attributed to Hamas forces.
According to the statement, on June 11, at approximately 10 pm Gaza time, a bus carrying more than two-dozen members of the GHF team, local Palestinians working with the U.S team to deliver critical aid, was brutally attacked by Hamas.
The team was headed to one of their distribution centers in the area west of Khan Younis.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, over 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with women and children making up the majority of victims.
“We condemn this heinous and deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms. These were aid workers. Humanitarians. Fathers, brothers, sons, and friends, who were risking their lives every day to help others,” the GHF remarked.
“Our hearts are broken and our thoughts and prayers are with every victim, every family, and every person still unaccounted for,” the Foundation added.
The Foundation called on the international community to immediately condemn Hamas for the unprovoked attack, and their continued threat against humanitarians.
This tragic event underscores a troubling global trend. According the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2024 was recorded as the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, with over 280 fatalities, surpassing the previous ecord of 280 in 2023.
The deaths of the aid workers serve as a reminder of the perilous conditions under which humanitarian missions operate, and the urgent need for enhanced protection and respect for those risking their lives to provide relief.