At least eight people, including children, were killed.
On 10 June, around 11:00 a.m. local time, a building located in Deir El Balah that houses a Médecins du Monde office was attacked by drones.
The office was clearly identified and registered with the Israeli military authorities. Initial reports indicate that at least eight people were killed as a result of the bombing: four children, one teenager, and three adults, all on the top floor of the building, which was directly hit by the projectile.
Because the day is a holiday due to the celebration of Eid, no staff from the organisation were inside at the time of the attack, so the entire Médecins du Monde team is safe.
Médecins du Monde had previously informed the Israeli military of the presence of its office in this building, which is officially declared “deconflicted,” meaning protected from Israeli military attacks under humanitarian coordination agreements. However, as has happened in previous Israeli attacks, the organisation’s team did not receive any prior warning that would have allowed evacuation of the building or protective measures for possible occupants.
After the attack, the Coordination and Liaison Office (CLA), responsible for authorising and coordinating the movements of humanitarian personnel within the Gaza Strip, has not provided any explanation despite being contacted by Médecins du Monde.
The building is located in Deir El Balah, an area that hosts numerous offices of non-governmental organisations and had until now remained relatively spared from bombings and destruction zones in Gaza. This area is also sheltering displaced populations from the northern Gaza Strip and the Khan Yunis area, highlighting the humanitarian importance of the Médecins du Monde office there.
This attack represents a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law, which protects both the civilian population and humanitarian organisations operating in conflict settings.
