Nine first responders have been missing for a fourth consecutive day after they failed to return from a rescue mission in southern Gaza’s Rafah city, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has said on X.

The PRCS staff headed for the al-Hashaashin neighbourhood of Rafah on Sunday after reports of casualties.

The organisation said they were “besieged” by Israeli forces and that Israeli authorities refused to cooperate with efforts to reach them through international organisations.