The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling for the killing in Gaza to stop now.  "The human cost in Gaza is too high.  Too many people are being killed and wounded including children, women, men and the elderly.  They are being damaged in their bodies and in their minds," says ICRC's Head of Operations for the Middle East, Robert Mardini. 

The ongoing hostilities have taken a major human toll with children making up one in four of the casualties according to health officials. 

The widespread material damage includes vital infrastructures such as water services and hospitals.  The ICRC firmly condemns the extremely alarming series of attacks against humanitarian workers, ambulances, and hospitals.  Al Aqsa hospital in Deir El Balah, Gaza, came under direct fire at least four times (27 July) killing at least four people and injuring scores of others.  The surgical ward, the intensive care unit and pieces of life-saving equipment were all severely damaged, disrupting essential medical services. An ICRC team visited the location and evaluated the damage, human and material, in order to bring immediate help and support.  Even in the midst of warfare, people must be able to receive medical care in safety.

The ICRC has stepped up its dialogue with the parties to the conflict about the conduct of hostilities, reminding them of their obligations under international humanitarian law.  According to these ‘rules of war’, all parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure.

In this war, as in any other, it is not acceptable that soldiers minimize their risks at the expense of civilians on the other side. It is also not acceptable to use civilians as human shields in a conflict.

The question here is not to see who is respecting which rule of war and who is violating which other the rule of war," states ICRC's Mardini.  "We are facing a major humanitarian emergency.  We are calling for the destruction to stop now and we are calling for the killing to stop now."

Shotlist

Location: Al Aqsa hospital, Gaza + Geneva, Switzerland
Filming date: 27 & 30 July, 2014
Length: 3:21
Format: H264 Mov HD & SD
Production: Rama Humeid & Nicola Fell
Camera: Shadow Pro
Sound: English & Arabic
ICRC ref: AV203N

Copyright: ICRC access all

27 July - Shohada Al Aqsa Hospital, Deir El Balah, Gaza Strip

0:00 ICRC team outside shelled hospital where two floors were partially damaged; 15 people from the medical staff, patients and relatives were injured while 4 patients and relatives were killed.
0:18 ICRC team enters hospital and inspects damage
1:24 12 year old girl patient from Nusairat
1:43 Woman patient

SOUNDBITE Woman patient (in Arabic)
1:49 "I was injured in my pelvis. Yes, I'm tired. I was with my children."

1:53 Woman's injuries
2:05 3 year old boy patient with fractures in lower limbs

30 July 2014, ICRC HQ, Geneva, Switzerland

2:19 SOUNDBITE Robert Mardini ICRC Head of Operations for the Near and Middle East, (in English)
"The human cost in Gaza is too high.  Too many people are being killed and wounded including children, women, men and the elderly.  They are being damaged in their bodies and in their minds.  The question here is not to see who is respecting which rule of war and who is violating which other the rule of war.  We are facing a major humanitarian emergency.  We are calling for the destruction to stop now and we are calling for the killing to stop now.

3:21 END