GAZA CITY
Sixteen Palestinian paramedics were killed and 102 others injured in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Palestinian enclave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Sunday.
Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra told Anadolu Agency that the medical rescue workers were targeted by Israeli warplanes and artillery in attacks across the Gaza Strip.
Around 36 ambulances were also targeted by the Israeli military since the beginning of the war, while some of these ambulances were totally destroyed, he said.
"The attacks took place amid failure on the part of the international organizations to protect medical teams and institutions," al-Qodra told AA.
He said by targeting medical teams and vehicles Israel is violating all international laws and conventions.
Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip – home to 1.8 million people – for the past four weeks with the stated aim of halting rocket fire.
At least 1766 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed and more than 9320 others injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the beleaguered territory.
Gaza-based resistance factions, meanwhile, have continued to fire rockets at Israeli cities in response to the ongoing Israeli attacks.
At least 63 Israeli soldiers have also been killed in battles with Palestinian fighters and three civilians in rocket attacks.
Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip within the last six years.
www.aa.com.tr/en
