Official statement from Human Appeal

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the tragic loss of three of our dedicated humanitarian aid workers in Gaza today. At approximately 10:14 AM local time on 10 July 2025, an airstrike struck the Orphans Department on the second floor of our North Gaza Office, killing three valued colleagues who were at their desks supporting vulnerable orphan care programs.

We mourn the loss of:

Asem Omar – a devoted family man, survived by his wife and five children.

Bilal Shehadeh – a committed humanitarian worker.

Mohammed Abu Jazar – who was engaged and preparing for his wedding.

Three additional Human Appeal team members were injured in this attack and are receiving medical care.

These individuals exemplified the very best of humanitarian service, dedicating their lives to supporting Gaza's most vulnerable families and children. Their commitment to alleviating suffering and providing hope in the darkest of circumstances will never be forgotten.

We unequivocally condemn this attack on humanitarian workers and our civilian operations. The targeting of aid workers represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law and threatens the lifeline of assistance that millions of Palestinian civilians depend upon for survival.

We call upon the world community to:

• Condemn attacks on humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure – more than 463 have lost their lives since October 2023.
• Ensure the protection and safety of aid workers as guaranteed under international law.
• Support the continuation of unrestricted life-saving humanitarian operations.

While we grieve the loss of our cherished colleagues, Human Appeal remains steadfast in our commitment to the people of Gaza. We will continue our mission to provide humanitarian aid to families enduring unimaginable suffering, honouring the memory of those we have lost by persevering in the vital work they believed in.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Asem, Bilal, and Mohammed, as well as our injured team members. We stand united in our resolve to be Here for Every Human, even in the face of such devastating loss.

Today, we grieve. Tomorrow, we honour our fallen colleagues by continuing their work with even greater determination. We stand together as one Human Appeal family, united in our mission and strengthened by our shared commitment to serve humanity’s most vulnerable.

Human Appeal is a regulated British humanitarian charity that has maintained a continuous presence in Gaza since 1991, providing essential humanitarian aid including orphan care, medical services, food distribution, and emergency relief. Since October 2023, our teams have served over 7 million emergency hot meals to families facing unprecedented hardship.

By Human Appeal

Canada