Draft:Targeting civil defense personnel in Gaza 2023

Since the beginning of the Israeli operation on Gaza, in October 2023, Israeli aircraft have targeted Palestinian Civil Defense personnel, leading to the death of at least 7 Civil Defense personnel who were among the civilians.

Background
The Palestinian Civil Defense is the agency specialized in emergency services working within the structure of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior to protect the lives and property of citizens in times of peace or war, whether in natural or industrial disasters. The agency was established according to Law No. (3) of 1998 regarding Civil Defense. Gaza has a separate civil defense which is an indispensable section of the West Bank.

In the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, there have been several reports of civil defence personnel being targeted by the Israeli attack. These reports indicate that Israeli forces have targeted some Civil Defense facilities and individuals while performing their humanitarian duties.

Casualties
The spokesman Mahmoud Basal said, "The direct and deliberate Israeli targeting of civil defence crews prevents us from reaching some of the targeted places in the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Gaza City."

Civil Defense personnel were targeted on Monday, October 16, 2023, where three Civil Defense personnel were killed following an Israeli airstrike targeting a Civil Defense headquarters in eastern Gaza. Four more Civil Defense personnel were killed in an Israeli bombardment that targeted a second Civil Defense headquarters in the Tell al-Hawa neighbourhood of southwest Gaza, bringing the death count to seven.