GENEVA August 31. 2024 (Saba) - The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said on Saturday that the systematic "Zionist" targeting of aid workers in Gaza, the latest of whom are contracted with "ANERA", undermines the provision of life-saving aid and exacerbates the catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The Observatory said in a press release: "Israel has deliberately launched attacks against humanitarian workers, whether Palestinian citizens or foreigners, over the months of the genocidal war on Gaza and killed more than 300 aid workers."
It added: "The Israeli occupation army is committing complex crimes by targeting humanitarian aid workers and elements securing the distribution of food and health supplies in the Gaza Strip, even though they have nothing to do with any governmental, security or factional structures."
"This Israeli targeting of aid workers is linked to the perpetuation of starvation against Palestinian civilians and the creation of chaos and lawlessness in the Gaza Strip." It continued.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor condemned the Israeli attack, which directly targeted an ANERA convoy and killed four members of a local protection team in the Gaza Strip, noting that "our documentation and communication with the victims' families and with relevant parties confirmed that the victims are part of a protection team contracted with Move One – based in Dubai and owns a branch in Gaza – the company responsible for transportation and insurance for the ANERA team."
It also pointed out that the four victims were present in the context of a work mission to secure the convoy, and not, as the occupying forces claimed, that they were armed men trying to steal an aid convoy.
The Observatory denounced ANERA's attempt to evade its responsibility, claiming that these four were not verified in advance or coordinated with them, despite acknowledging that they are part of the intermediary company's team, holding the occupation army responsible for the killing of members of the local protection team without any justification in the context of targeting any form of protection and insurance, even if it is civilian, whether for aid convoys or within the community.
The Observatory called on the international community to express decisive and serious positions and demand investigation and accountability for this crime, similar to the strong positions after the Israeli bombing of the convoy of the organization "World Central Kitchen" (WCK) months ago.
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