KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) has strongly condemned the attack on the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Younis, Gaza, which killed one staff member and injured two others, including a civilian.
The strike occurred despite the facility being clearly marked with the Red Crescent emblem, a symbol protected under international humanitarian law.
"This is not just a tragedy—it is a grave breach of international humanitarian law and an attack on the sanctity of impartial and neutral humanitarian action," said MRC Secretary-General Datuk Danial Iskandar Abd Rahman (pic) in a statement on Thursday (August 7).
"The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem must never be a target. We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect those who wear the Red Crescent emblem in service of humanity."
The attack hit the second and ground floors of the facility while emergency teams were evacuating and extinguishing a fire, resulting in the death of PRCS staff member Omar Isleem.
This brings the number of PRCS personnel killed since the conflict began to 51—31 of whom died while on duty, including 29 in Gaza and two in the West Bank.
MRC national chairperson Datuk Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz described the incident as "heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable," emphasising that these humanitarian workers risk their lives daily to uphold humanity’s most basic values.
The MRC extended its deepest condolences to the PRCS and the family of the fallen staff member and called for the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and medical infrastructure.
"Any attack on their facilities or personnel is an attack on humanitarian assistance itself, and there are no excuses for such violations," MRC added.
