The World Health Organisation has expressed its condolences to the families of two Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedics who were killed by Israeli forces in Rafah.

In a post on social media, the WHO said healthcare “is not a target”, adding that “health workers are protected under international humanitarian law and must always be able to safely perform their duties”.

The PRCS said its staff members, Haitham Tubasi and Suhail Hassouna, were deliberately targeted by Israeli warplanes as they were in their ambulance responding to the needs of people in Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan area.

Their deaths bring to 19 the number of PRCS killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since the start of the latest conflict in October.