DRC Mourns the Killing of Colleague Ahmed Saad and His Family in Gaza

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is deeply saddened by the killing of Ahmed Saad, Media Coordinator with our local partner, the Palestinian Agricultural Development Association (PARC). Ahmed was killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike on his home in Gaza City, along with eight members of his family. 

Ahmed worked closely with DRC teams on the delivery of lifesaving site management activities in Gaza and was known for his unwavering commitment to his community and his work. His death is a tragic loss for his loved ones, for PARC, and for all those he supported through his dedication to humanitarian action in one of the world’s most dangerous operational contexts. 

His killing comes amid attacks that reportedly claimed the lives of four more aid workers between 25–27 June. These deaths reflect a growing and unacceptable risk faced by humanitarian personnel in Gaza; risks that persist despite the explicit protections guaranteed under international humanitarian law. 

DRC reiterates that civilians, including aid workers and medical staff, as well as civilian infrastructure, must be protected at all times. According to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected. Attacks against them are prohibited and may constitute grave breaches of international law. 

We extend our deepest condolences to Ahmed’s family, his colleagues at PARC, and all who knew and worked alongside him. 

Together with PARC and the broader humanitarian community, DRC urges the international community and human rights actors to take immediate steps to protect humanitarian workers in Gaza and ensure the safe delivery of principled humanitarian assistance.