Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, tells Palestine Today the details of the occupation's targeting of civil defense crews while they were carrying out their humanitarian duty of rescuing the injured after a house was bombed in the Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City.

Summary translation:

The crews were informed of a strike in Sabra neighborhood and headed to the location to carry out the rescue mission. While the crews were working on rescuing victims an Israeli drone struck the house again.

Mahmoud states that Ali Omar was one of the most competent members of the rescue crews and was always there even in the most difficult and challenging rescue missions. He had rescued 5 children before being killed, and insisted to remain at the house to rescue a mother whose foot was stuck under the rubble. The latter was likely killed along with Ali, while 3 other Civil Defense crews were injured.

Asked about Civil Defense being prevented from oeprating in North Gaza, Mahmoud responds that Israel kills everyone indiscriminately and makes no distinction between Civil Defense and others. The Civil Defense offers a humanitarian service, so it is impossible for the crews to cease operations of their own volition unless they're coerced to as Israel did in North Gaza. Israel continues targeting Civil Defense crews as another member was killed by a sniper the day before (November 18) in central Gaza.

Mahmoud appeals to the world and international organizations to uphold the protection of Civil Defense and allow it to carry out its duties. It is inhuman and unacceptable for them to be terrorized and killed.

Moments before midnight, Israeli airstrikes targeted a house belonging to the Ghabboun family, opposite Al-Sultan Bakery in Sabra neighbourhood, southwest of Gaza City.

About 20 minutes later, when journalists and Civil Defense crews arrived on the scene, the house was bombed again, killing Civil Defense member Ali Omar and injuring journalist Hossam Shabat.

Chain of events

• Civil Defense crews headed on a rescue mission to the Ghabboun family house and managed to rescue at least five children.
• The crews transferred the children to Al-Ahli Hospital.
• The crews went back to the home to rescue more victims, including one woman whose foot was stuck in the rubble.
• Israeli drones struck the house again, leading to the killing of rescue worker Ali Omar and the injury of three other civil defense crews and of journalist Hossam Shabat.

Testimonies

One of three injured Civil Defense crews recounted how Ali Omar was killed. He stated that the stairs were collapsed in the 7-story building where they were carrying out their rescue mission, and the crews had mounted a ladder between the sixth and seventh floors that Ali used to try and pull out a woman stuck in the rubble. Suddenly there was an explosion, and Ali was flung from the 7th to the ground floor.

In the same video, another crew member reported that it was Israeli drones that bombed the house a second time.

Quds Feed correspondent Ashraf Hajjaj documented the aftermath of the massacre and stated that Israeli forces launched one bomb on the house, then followed-up with two others by drone, this is consistent with testimonies by Civil Defense members who were present. He added that the Ministry of Health confirmed the killing of a woman and two of her sons.

Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Mahmoud Saber Basal stated that Ali was probably one of the best members of the crew at rescuing children, and he had rescued five from the Ghabboun family house before he was murdered.

Journalist Hossam Shabat recounted that he was injured by rubble falling from the roof following a second strike.

Names of the martyrs (identified)

1. Ali Mohammad Mustafa Omar (Civil Defense)

Photos

Martyred Civil Defense member Ali Omar

Journalist Hossam Shabat leaning on the walls of the house to document the event