The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed the killing of Mahmoud Barakeh, a dedicated staff member in Gaza, marking the fifth ICRC worker killed since Israel’s ongoing war on the besieged enclave began. Barakeh was killed on Sunday while heading home after a shift at the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah.
Barakeh, a logistics worker who played a crucial role in maintaining medical operations in southern Gaza, leaves behind his wife, three sons, and two daughters. The ICRC described his death as both a “profound personal loss” and a painful reminder of the dangerous conditions faced by aid workers operating in a war zone.
“This heartbreaking loss is yet another stark reminder of the immense challenges our colleagues, and the people of Gaza, face each day,” the ICRC said in an official statement.
Gaza: A Deathtrap for Humanitarian Workers
Barakeh’s killing highlights the growing danger for humanitarian staff in Gaza, where even those trying to save lives are struggling to survive. Despite clearly marked facilities and staff wearing insignia of international protection, attacks on aid workers have become disturbingly frequent in the ongoing conflict.
The ICRC has not disclosed the precise circumstances of Barakeh’s death — whether he was targeted, caught in crossfire, or struck during a broader military strike. However, aid organizations have repeatedly stressed that Gaza is no longer a safe operational environment, even for those delivering life-saving assistance.
Since the war intensified in October, multiple humanitarian workers from the UN, Red Crescent, and other NGOs have been killed, leading to international condemnation and calls for greater protections. Humanitarian corridors remain unreliable, and basic principles of international humanitarian law are being ignored with increasing frequency.
Calls Grow for Protection of Aid Workers and Civilians
The ICRC’s statement adds urgency to the demand for accountability and civilian protection under international law. Despite repeated appeals from humanitarian groups, the targeting of healthcare workers, journalists, and aid staff continues across Gaza’s bombarded cities.
“This must stop. No one wearing a Red Cross emblem should be killed while helping others,” said one ICRC spokesperson, calling for safe passage and respect for international humanitarian norms. Many workers like Barakeh continue to show up every day, risking their lives to deliver food, medicine, and care to millions trapped in war.
As Gaza’s hospitals run low on supplies and shelters overflow with displaced families, the death of Barakeh symbolizes the collapse of humanitarian space in one of the world’s most densely populated conflict zones.
The grief is heavy not just within the ICRC family, but across Gaza’s shattered communities. Mahmoud Barakeh’s name now joins a long, growing list of those who died not with a weapon, but with a will to help.
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