The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that its offices in Gaza were damaged by shelling, resulting in the deaths of 22 people who had sought refuge around its compound.

According to an ICRC statement, “Heavy-calibre projectiles landed within metres of the office and residences of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday afternoon.” The ICRC emphasized that all parties involved in the conflict are obligated to take precautions to avoid harm to civilians and humanitarian facilities.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told the BBC that preliminary inquiries indicated “no evidence” of an Israeli strike in the area, but noted that the incident was “under review.”

“The strike damaged the structure of the ICRC office, which is surrounded by hundreds of displaced civilians living in tents, including many of our Palestinian colleagues,” the ICRC stated. “This incident caused a mass casualty influx at the nearby Red Cross Field Hospital, with the hospital receiving 22 killed and 45 injured, with reports of additional casualties.”

The ICRC labeled this a “grave security incident,” one of several occurring in recent days. “We decry these incidents that put the lives of humanitarians and civilians at risk,” the statement added.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported different figures, stating that 25 people were killed and 50 injured in the shelling, attributing the attack to Israel.

The Israeli military began a campaign to dismantle the Palestinian armed group Hamas following an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 37,551 people have been killed since the start of the conflict. The figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but reportedly include 14,680 children, women, and elderly people among the dead by the end of April.

In a related development, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that escalating hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah could lead to a regional catastrophe.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, condemning the increasingly warlike rhetoric from both sides. He warned that the world cannot afford for Lebanon to become “another Gaza.”

In recent months, there have been a series of retaliatory cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group claims it is fighting Israel in support of its ally, Hamas, in Gaza.