Attack on humanitarian aid workers and hospital in the Gaza Strip

The Brazilian government is deeply dismayed to learn of an Israeli airstrike that took place on April 1st in the region of Deir el-Balah, in the Gaza Strip, in which seven workers from the humanitarian NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed. Brazil also deplores the deaths of Palestinian civilians and health workers and the damage caused by military action in recent weeks, which resulted in the destruction of the Al-Shifa hospital, in a context in which medical assistance to the population of Gaza is essential.

In expressing its solidarity with the people of Palestine and those from other countries of the victims’ nationalities (Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Poland), especially their families, Brazil regrets that more than 200 humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza since October 2023. This number is the highest in the history of the UN and represents, in less than six months of conflict, almost three times more victims among humanitarian workers than ever recorded in a single conflict over a year.

The Brazilian government reiterates its firm rejection of any and all military actions against civilian targets, in particular those linked with the provision of humanitarian aid and medical assistance. It reiterates the importance of complying with the demand for an immediate ceasefire contained in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, adopted on March 25. It also recalls the binding nature of provisional measures indicated by the International Court of Justice on January 26th, and of additional measures ordered on March 28th, within the scope of the case filed against Israel, based on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.