UN report raises concerns over Israel’s compliance with international law in Gaza hospital attacks
This picture shows the damage at the Al-Wafaa Hospital in central Gaza Strip on December 29, 2024. (AFP Photo)
United Nations Human Rights Office’s recent “Thematic Report: Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza” report has raised serious concerns regarding Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law during military operations in Gaza between Oct. 12, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
The document highlights repeated attacks on hospitals and medical personnel, raising the possibility of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Systematic Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities
According to the report, at least 136 strikes targeted 27 hospitals and 12 medical facilities during the documented period. These attacks resulted in significant casualties among doctors, nurses, and civilians while causing severe damage or destruction to critical infrastructure.
The report emphasizes that international humanitarian law protects medical personnel and facilities as long as they are not used for military purposes. Even in exceptional circumstances where they may lose protected status, attacks must adhere to principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
Kamal Adwan Hospital raid, broader impacts
The release of the report follows the shutdown of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major functioning healthcare facility in northern Gaza, after an Israeli military raid. Staff and patients were forced to flee, and many were reportedly detained under unclear circumstances.
The hospital director remains missing, with allegations of ill-treatment and torture surfacing.
The destruction of healthcare infrastructure has had far-reaching consequences, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Reports indicate increased maternal and infant mortality because of a lack of access to adequate care.
Mass graves, allegations of war crimes
One of the most striking findings of the report revolves around the Al Shifa Medical Complex (Al Shifa Hospital). Following two major Israeli military operations, mass graves containing at least 80 bodies were discovered at the hospital.
Some bodies were reportedly found with catheters and cannulas still attached, raising serious questions about violations of international law.
Additionally, the report highlighted the use of wide-area explosive munitions, such as MK 83 bombs, in densely populated areas around hospitals, raising concerns about indiscriminate attacks.
Israel’s response, claims against Hamas
Israel has consistently stated that hospitals in Gaza were being used by Hamas for “military purposes, serving as command centers and storage facilities for weapons.
However, the U.N. report points out that these claims have not been substantiated with sufficient evidence and, in some cases, contradict publicly available information.
OHCHR’s fourth “thematic report” is an expression of the organization’s politically-driven obsession with Israel. The sky is the limit when it comes to the Office’s focus on Israel. The comparison to the minutia of reports on Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Ukraine, speaks for itself.
The report relies on information from Hamas health authorities. The recent report of the Henry Jackson Society institute proved once again just how fabricated this data is.
Israel operates in accordance with international law, and will never target innocent civilians. It is the murderous terrorist organization Hamas that uses civilians as human shields, and uses hospitals for terror activity. This terror activity was revealed again in Kamal Adwan hospital, where 240 Hamas terrorists were apprehended, some of whom used ambulances in their terror operations.
All of this information is, of course, omitted from the OHCHR report.
Daniel Meron, Israel’s Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN in Geneva
Call for independent investigations, accountability
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed the need for independent, transparent investigations into the incidents documented in the report.
He called for full accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and urged Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure access to adequate healthcare in Gaza.
“The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times,” Turk stated.
“As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe became a death trap,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times.”
Mounting humanitarian toll in Gaza
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, by the end of June 2024, more than 500 medical professionals had been killed since October 7, 2023. Trauma injuries and preventable deaths have soared due to the collapse of the healthcare system.
