**LONDON**
The UN high commissioner for human rights on Tuesday strongly condemned a March 23 attack by the Israeli army on a medical and emergency convoy in Gaza which resulted in the deaths of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian workers.
“The subsequent discovery of their bodies eight days later in Rafah, buried near their clearly marked destroyed vehicles, is deeply disturbing,” Volker Turk said in a statement.
“This raises significant questions with regard to the conduct of the Israeli army during and in the aftermath of the incident.”
Turk emphasized the need for the protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones, stressing that “medical personnel and humanitarian and emergency workers must be protected by all parties to the conflict, as required by international humanitarian law.”
He also highlighted the dire situation in Rafah, Southern Gaza, where “tens of thousands of Palestinians need help while they are reportedly trapped in Tall Al-Sultan, Rafah, with the entire governorate under a displacement order.”
Citing Israel’s obligations under international law, Turk said: “Israel, as the occupying power, has the responsibility of protecting civilians and facilitating their access to basic lifesaving services, including healthcare.”
He also noted previous concerns raised by his office regarding “the detention and killing of medical and emergency personnel in Gaza, who are working under extremely difficult conditions. Hundreds of them have been killed over the past 18 months.”
During its war on Gaza starting in October 2023, Israel has frequently attacked hospitals, medical personnel, and aid workers, in likely violations of the law of war.
“The fate and whereabouts of the last member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society who remains missing must be clarified,” Turk added. “There must be an independent, prompt and thorough investigation into the incident and those responsible for any violation of international law must be held to account.”
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