UN Report: Israel Attacks on Gaza Healthcare System Kill 500 Medical Workers

Gaza Hospitals Under Siege: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

Gaza City, Gaza Strip – The already fragile healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, ravaged by months of relentless conflict and targeted attacks. A new report from the United nations office for Human Rights paints a grim picture of the devastation, detailing at least 136 attacks on 27 hospitals and 12 medical facilities since the conflict began in October 2023.

These attacks, which have claimed the lives of over 500 medical personnel, raise serious concerns about potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“The deadly attacks on Gaza hospitals and the surrounding fighting have pushed the healthcare system to the edge of total collapse, with catastrophic consequences for Palestinian access to healthcare,” the UN report states.

While Israel has justified some of these attacks by alleging that hospitals are being used for military purposes by Palestinian armed groups, the UN has found insufficient evidence to support these claims. The report emphasizes that these attacks raise serious questions about Israel’s compliance with international law, which specifically protects medical personnel and hospitals unless they are directly engaged in hostilities.

“The only place where Palestinians should have felt safe has become a death trap,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human rights.The report highlights the devastating impact of these attacks, citing the destruction of Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, which was left in ruins after repeated assaults. The finding of mass graves containing at least 80 bodies within the hospital grounds further underscores the brutality of the situation.

the use of heavy weaponry and airstrikes against hospitals, such as the attack on the al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah on January 10th, which killed 12 people including a journalist, has become a disturbing pattern.

The report also documents cases of Israeli forces targeting individuals within hospitals, such as the death of a nurse who was shot while looking out a window at the Al Awda Hospital in Yabalia in December 2023.

The UN is calling for a thorough and independent inquiry into all these incidents, demanding accountability for violations of international law and human rights. The release of all detained medical personnel is also urgently needed.

The report underscores that even in extraordinary circumstances where medical facilities or personnel might be considered military targets, attacks must adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

The ongoing crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for a ceasefire and a lasting solution to the conflict. The international community must act decisively to protect civilians and ensure access to essential healthcare for the people of Gaza.