Two aid agencies say they have evidence indicating that Israel carried out an attack earlier this month on a compound housing aid workers and their families in a supposed safe zone in Gaza.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Medical Aid for the Palestinians (MAP) said an independent assessment by the United Nations concluded that the damage was caused by an airstrike that likely involved a missile package in the exclusive possession of the Israeli military. .
“The Israeli army is the only armed actor in Gaza with access to this weaponry,” Wednesday's statement said. The strike took place on January 18.
CNN has contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment on the claims.
More context: Although officially designated as a safe zone by the IDF, Al Mawasi – a 5.22-square-mile (13.5-square-kilometer) coastal strip where the compound was located – has suffered several attacks in recent weeks, according to Health Ministry reports. controlled by Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian state news agency WAFA.
Both organizations reiterated that attacks against this type of environment violate international humanitarian law. Despite remaining committed to the “humanitarian imperative”, the IRC and MAP compared the current situation in Gaza to a “losing battle.”
CNN cannot independently confirm these claims due to the difficulty of reporting from the war zone.
