Israeli tanks open fire on ambulances carrying injured Palestinians near Rafah crossing

Israeli tanks opened fire on ambulances carrying Palestinian patients set to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip for medical attention abroad, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday.

In a brief statement, Anadolu has reported, the society said that the ambulances came under Israeli fire near the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza as patients were being transported in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO). It added that the ambulances are still waiting for permission to proceed.

Nearly 48,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 111,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli war on Gaza since October 2023. The onslaught, which has left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took effect on 19 January.

Despite the ceasefire, the local authorities in Gaza have reported almost daily ceasefire violations by the Israeli army.

The first group of Palestinian patients and wounded left Gaza through the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt on 1 February under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war against Palestinians in the enclave.

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