GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Gaza’s civil defense on Wednesday condemned the Israeli attack that killed an entire Palestinian family after their home was bombed before dawn Monday, igniting a fire that burned all family members to death.
The agency also warned that its ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies has been severely weakened by the ongoing Israeli war, equipment shortages, and a lack of operational resources.
In a press statement, the civil defense said its crews continue to face scenes of “daily human tragedy” across the Gaza Strip as Israeli attacks on civilians persist, causing widespread destruction and mounting casualties.
It said the targeted home was sheltering an entire family when the Israeli airstrike set the building ablaze, killing the father, mother, and their children. Rescue teams were unable to reach them in time to save their lives.
The civil defense said it is facing a severe operational crisis that has significantly limited its ability to carry out rescue, firefighting, and emergency response missions, despite being the only authority responsible for these services under international laws and protocols.
It held Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for the attack, describing it as a grave humanitarian violation against civilians inside their homes.
The agency said its emergency response capacity in Gaza Governorate, the largest governorate in the Strip, has fallen to no more than 25% after one of its main stations ceased operations nearly a month ago because of shortages of oil, spare parts, and batteries needed to operate firefighting and rescue vehicles.
It added that Israeli forces deliberately target homes and civilians simultaneously, overwhelming rescue crews and worsening the scale of the disasters while limited resources prevent teams from responding to all emergency calls.
The civil defense called on the International Civil Defense Organization to fulfill its responsibilities by supporting Gaza’s civil defense in line with the humanitarian principles upon which the organization was established.
It also urged the international community, humanitarian organizations, and countries guaranteeing the ceasefire agreement to take immediate practical steps to provide the civil defense with rescue vehicles, firefighting equipment, and emergency supplies and to pressure Israel to allow their entry into Gaza so rescue crews can carry out their humanitarian mission and save civilian lives.
