Red Cross staff member and volunteer shot and wounded in Gaza

An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff member and Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) volunteer were wounded after being shot at in Gaza late on Thursday, the ICRC said in a statement.

It said: "The injured individuals were immediately evacuated and received treatment; both are in stable condition. The mission was launched to evacuate a wounded ICRC staff member and his family who had been unreachable since 4 July due to ongoing hostilities. The previously wounded ICRC colleague and his family members remain unreachable."

The ICRC said that Israeli authorities were notified of the mission, and it took place with its coordination.

"All staff were travelling in illuminated and clearly marked vehicles bearing the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems," it said.

"The ICRC condemns this attack. This is the second incident in which an ICRC staff member has been injured by bullets in less than a week. Both the PRCS and the ICRC have already faced numerous security incidents over the past few months. The ICRC is outraged by these incidents which are a stark reminder of the grave danger civilians in Gaza face every day."

It added that under international humanitarian law, medical and humanitarian relief personnel must never be attacked.