Sahar Haroon

ALT We are deeply distressed by the killing of Lebanese Red Cross paramedic Hassan Badawi, who succumbed to injuries sustained from a strike while carrying out an emergency rescue mission in the Bint Jbeil district in southern Lebanon. We mourn this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and his colleagues. Our thoughts are also with another Lebanese Red Cross colleague who was injured in the same incident. Humanitarian and medical personnel like Badawi must be respected and protected while carrying out their duties. This obligation goes hand in hand with the respect of the protective emblem. We remind all parties to the conflict to ensure that medical personnel, hospitals and other medical units, as well as ambulances exclusively assigned to medical duties are respected and protected in all circumstances. All feasible measures must be taken to ensure their safety.

ALT \"Widening hostilities across the Middle East are putting civilian lives in grave danger. The scale of major military operations flaring across the Middle East risks embroiling the region \u2013 and beyond \u2013 into another large-scale armed conflict that will overwhelm any humanitarian response. Without urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and respect the rules of war, further civilian lives will be lost. Civilians are already suffering the consequences of war. All parties to armed conflict have an obligation to uphold the rules of war, which are unequivocal. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be spared from hostilities. Schools must remain sanctuaries for learning where children can feel safe and protected from attacks, and hospitals must remain sanctuaries for saving lives.

ALT They are not targets, they are not soldiers, they are not weapons. They are just children.