Red Cross announces ceasefire in 3 Gaza areas

The International Red Cross announces a humanitarian ceasefire in several combat zones in the Gaza Strip in order to allow for the evacuation of wounded Palestinians to nearby hospitals, AFP reports.

“A convoy of seven ambulances and two Red Cross cars went inside Shejaiya to evacuate the wounded,” ICRC spokeswoman Cecilia Goin told AFP, saying the move had been coordinated with both Israel and Hamas.

A second convoy of nine ambulances and two Red Cross vehicles went into Khuzaa near the southern city of Khan Yunis, an area which also came under very heavy Israeli fire overnight, she said.

A third team went into the northern town of Beit Hanun, the agency said.

“We have coordinated with both Hamas and the Israelis to be able to take out the wounded,” Goin told AFP, indicating both sides had agreed to hold their fire, although it was not immediately clear for how long.