Gaza Clinic Attack Kills 15, HCI Demands Action

Children and women among victims in Deir al Balah bombing

Human Concern International (HCI) has issued a scathing denouncement of a morning airstrike that devastated a health clinic’s vicinity in Deir al Balah, Gaza. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians, including a significant number of children and women.

“A Profound Moral Failure”

The victims were reportedly killed while queuing for the clinic to open, seeking essential medical care and sustenance. HCI CEO **Mahmuda Khan** stated, “These were women and children — patients seeking medical care, families desperate for food and medicine. They were starving, vulnerable, and looking for relief — instead, they were killed. This is not only a tragedy; it is an ongoing violation of international law by Israel and a profound moral failure of the international community. This must not be allowed to continue.”

Escalating Pattern of Violence

This lethal strike is characterized by HCI as part of a continuing trend of assaults targeting civilian infrastructure. Attacks have increasingly affected schools, shelters, medical facilities, and crucial aid distribution sites, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation.

Call for Canadian Intervention

Iftikhar Shaikh Ahmad, HCI’s Global Chief Program Director, underscored the gravity of these actions. “The deliberate targeting of protected sites is a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which obligates all parties to protect civilians and ensure the safe, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance,” he remarked. “Canada must condemn Israel’s continued weaponization of aid — whether it is lacing flour with drugs, targeting civilians starving for food, or killing humanitarian aid workers. This ongoing assault on human life, human dignity, and the rule of international law must stop.”

HCI urges the Canadian government to move beyond expressions of concern and take decisive action. The organization is calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid access across Gaza, and accountability for all breaches of international humanitarian law.

The international community faces mounting pressure to respond to the escalating violence. According to UNICEF, children in Gaza are facing unprecedented levels of malnutrition, with reports indicating that around 8,000 children under five suffer from acute malnutrition as of May 2024.

About Human Concern International

Human Concern International, Canada’s oldest Muslim charity, is dedicated to eradicating poverty and injustice globally. HCI has provided vital aid and development support to millions worldwide through emergency response, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihood programs.