The United Nations human rights office says Israeli attacks on and around hospitals have pushed Gaza’s health care system to the “brink of total destruction” and called it war crimes and crimes against humanity. I have raised serious concerns.
A new report describes a pattern in which Israeli forces attacked, besieged and forcibly evacuated hospitals, leaving patients dead or killed.
He has acknowledged Israeli allegations that the hospitals have been used by Palestinian armed groups, but says the evidence is “conclusive”.
Israel’s mission in Geneva said the report was an expression of what it called the UN human rights office’s “politically driven obsession with Israel” and that “information from Hamas health officials Dependent upon.” He stressed that Israeli forces are acting in accordance with international law. law and “will never target innocent citizens”.
“It is the murderous terrorist organization Hamas that uses civilians as human shields, and uses hospitals for terrorist activities,” he added.
It comes days after the Israeli army raided the last functioning hospital in besieged northern Gaza, which it said was being used as a command center for Hamas.
On October 7, 2023, Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
Since then, more than 45,500 people have been killed and 108,300 injured in Gaza, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry.
“As if the constant bombardment and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, a haven where Palestinians should actually feel safe has become a death trap,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tucker said on Tuesday. .
“Protection of hospitals during war is paramount and must be respected by all sides at all times.”
The United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it documented at least 136 attacks on 27 of Gaza’s 38 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities during the reporting period, which ran from October 2023 to June 2024. was between
It added that the attacks “caused significant casualties among doctors, nurses, medics and other civilians” and “caused significant damage, if not total destruction, to civilian infrastructure”.
Medical personnel and hospitals are particularly protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are used to do, harm to the enemy outside of their humanitarian function. Even then, any attack must still adhere to the basic principles of differentiation, proportion, and caution in attack.
The OHCHR stated that deliberately directing attacks on hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are treated, deliberately directing attacks against civilian populations, and deliberately disproportionate attacks are war crimes.
And under certain circumstances, the deliberate destruction of health care facilities could amount to collective punishment, which would also constitute a war crime.
According to the report, in most cases where Israel has attacked hospitals, Israel has alleged that the hospitals are being misused by Palestinian armed groups.
“However, insufficient information has so far been made available to substantiate these allegations, which are vague and broad, and in some cases appear to contradict publicly available information,” the UN report said. .
“If these allegations are confirmed, it will raise serious concerns that Palestinian armed groups are deliberately using the presence of civilians to protect themselves from attacks, which would amount to a war crime. “
Hamas and medical staff have denied that the hospitals are being used by armed groups.
The report also states that the effects of Israeli military operations in and around hospitals have gone beyond the physical structure.
“Many women are giving birth with little or no antenatal and postnatal care, increasing the risk of preventable maternal and child mortality,” it said.
“OHCHR has received reports that many newborns have died because their mothers were unable to access post-natal check-ups or medical facilities.”
The report also said that people with traumatic injuries were being prevented from receiving timely and potentially life-saving treatment, noting that the Gaza Ministry of Health had cut the number of hospital beds by 80. percent loss and more than 500 medical professionals have been reported killed. at the end of June.
“Many of the injured reportedly died in hospital or while waiting for treatment. Even those who managed to receive critical treatment, including surgery, received it without adequate beds and facilities, and often space. Discharged prematurely due to lack of
In response to the report, the OHCHR cited the Israeli government as saying that the Israeli military had “restricted civilian casualties and provided medical services.” I have taken “extensive measures” to reduce disruption.
These include enabling evacuation routes from hospitals, providing medical equipment, fuel and other aid to keep hospitals operational, and establishing field hospitals, it said.
The Israeli government also asserted that Hamas had chosen to “use a method of protecting medical facilities”, “strategically incorporating its tunnel systems and infrastructure into medical facilities.” , and used them as weapons depots and accessible headquarters for his operatives”.
Turk called for an independent investigation into the incidents documented in the report, and said that “as an occupying power, it is also important for Israel to ensure and facilitate access to adequate health care for the Palestinian population.” is”.