Israeli troops accused of deliberately firing at teenage girl, her family attempting to flee Gaza

The Palestinian Red Crescent has leveled damning accusations against Israeli forces, alleging deliberately targeting a teenage girl and her family when they were attempting to flee the war-struck Gaza strip in a car. According to reports, the incident came to light as girl made an SOS call to the Red Crescent officials while seeking refuge in a car. The Israeli tank ominously stationed nearby heightened the danger faced by her and her family as they endeavored to comply with Israel’s evacuation directive in Gaza. Terrified, the teen relayed to relatives and emergency services that Israeli troops were targeting their vehicle. Tragically, everyone inside, except her and her 5-year-old cousin Hind, fell victim to the onslaught. In a distressing call on January 29, the 15-year-old, named Layan, informed the Palestinian Red Crescent of the dire situation. “They are shooting at us,” she cried out, describing the proximity of the tank. The conversation abruptly ended with the sound of gunfire and Layan’s screams. This harrowing ordeal initiated a frantic rescue mission by the Palestinian Red Crescent, amid the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite dispatching an ambulance, communication with the crew was abruptly severed. Twelve days later, the charred remains of the ambulance were discovered, along with the lifeless bodies of the two medics onboard. The Palestinian Red Crescent accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the ambulance, despite prior coordination for safe passage. The family car was found as well with six bodies, including Layan’s and Hind’s. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Movement around the tiny enclave carries deadly risk as Israel presses its ground and air offensive. Israel’s prime minister has announced plans for a ground invasion of the crammed southern city of Rafah and said well over a million people would need to move. The Health Ministry in Gaza says about two-thirds of more than 28,000 people killed since the start of the war have been children and women. The ministry does not distinguish in its count between civilians and combatants. Israel says it strikes Hamas targets and holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties because the militants fight from civilian areas. The Hamada family was among more than 80% of Gaza’s population evacuating their homes. On Jan, 29, near a gas station in Gaza City, in an area designated by Israel as a combat zone, the family encountered a tank. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. But in a frantic call to her father’s brother, Omar, the teen Layan said troops were firing on them, Omar told the AP. Her great-uncle Bashar Hamada, his wife and two of their children were killed. Layan was wounded. She pleaded with Omar to send an ambulance. He connected her with the Palestinian Red Crescent office in Ramallah, which hoped to instruct her how to save herself and anyone else alive. It was too late. The Palestinian Red Crescent dispatched an ambulance after Layan went silent. Hours later, it lost contact with the medics, Yousef Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun, as they arrived at the scene. For days, the organization shared the story of Hind, her family and the missing medics on social media — even posting audio of the phone call with Layan — in a plea for help. On Saturday, after Israeli troops withdrew from the area and civilians told the Palestinian Red Crescent about the bodies, it shared video of the ambulance, crumpled and burned. Nearby was a car said to be the family’s, smashed and riddled with bullet holes. (with inputs from The Associated Press)