Logan Reid
Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza have raised serious concerns about its compliance with international law and have been described as war crimes by Human Rights Watch. The Israeli military has allegedly targeted medical facilities, personnel, and transport, causing massive life-or-death implications for patients and caregivers. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including children, and have left the population without access to essential food, water, and medical care. Israel has claimed that hospitals were being improperly used for military purposes by Hamas, but these allegations have been refuted by independent investigations. The systematic destruction of Gaza's healthcare system and the killing of patients, staff, and civilians in these attacks are blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of attacks | 2023-2025 |
| Hospitals attacked | Nasser Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, al-Ahli Arab Hospital, al-Quds hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, Gaza European Hospital, al-Amal Hospital |
| Human impact | Over 11,000 killed, including 4,500 children; 1.5 million displaced; 77,704 injured; thousands without access to healthcare; newborn deaths; preventable maternal and child mortality |
| Weapons used | Fragmentation bombs, gunshots, smoke bombs, airstrikes |
| Israeli rationale | Claims hospitals are being improperly used for military purposes by Hamas; claims Hamas uses hospitals to store weapons and launch attacks |
| International response | UN Security Council calls for independent investigations and urgent international action to protect civilians; US, UK, Canada, Germany, and others urged to suspend military assistance and arms sales to Israel |
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What You'll Learn
Israel's alleged justification: hospitals are military bases
Israel has been accused of attacking hospitals in Gaza, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, and severely impacting the healthcare system. Israel has allegedly justified some of these attacks by claiming that hospitals are being improperly used for military purposes and as military bases by Hamas.
In response to these allegations, the Israeli government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, claimed that during the incursion into Nasser Hospital, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) facilitated the supply of medications donated by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the WHO's executive director, Avril Benoit, countered that there is a systematic effort to undermine independent humanitarian action.
During the February 2024 incursion into Nasser Hospital, Israeli ground troops forced thousands of displaced people sheltering in the hospital compound to leave while the IDF assaulted the facility. Israeli spokespeople claimed that Hamas used the hospital for military operations and to hold the bodies of two Israeli hostages, which, if true, could be considered war crimes. However, independent investigations into these claims are hindered by the exclusion of foreign journalists from Gaza and the reported deaths of numerous Palestinian journalists.
In the case of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Israel attacked the facility on December 18, 2023, forcing out displaced people and arresting doctors, patients, and medical staff. The hospital's director stated that Israeli troops partially destroyed the building, rendering it unable to receive patients. Israel claims that Hamas used the hospital as a military base, but this claim has been deemed "unconvincing" by several media outlets, including the BBC, The Independent, and The Washington Post.
The alleged misuse of hospitals by Hamas has been described as a "deliberate and systematic strategy" by Israel, with Kamal Adwan Hospital being cited as another example. Israel asserts that Hamas used this hospital to protect terrorists, store weapons, and launch attacks. However, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for independent investigations into these allegations, emphasizing the need to protect hospitals during warfare.
While Israel's alleged justification for attacking hospitals centers on the improper military use by Hamas, the widespread destruction of Gaza's healthcare system and the severe impact on civilians cannot be ignored. The repeated attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and transport are considered unlawful and should be investigated as war crimes.
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International law: hospitals are protected
International humanitarian law (IHL) is clear that hospitals are protected during armed conflicts. This protection is afforded because hospitals are life-saving institutions for the wounded and sick. The wounded and sick include anyone, military or civilian, who needs medical attention and is not taking part in hostilities.
Under IHL, the wounded and sick have general rights to be respected, protected, searched for and collected, and cared for without distinction based on non-medical grounds. This protection also extends to medical staff and means of transport.
However, hospitals can lose their protected status under IHL if they are used by a party to the conflict to commit an "act harmful to the enemy" outside their humanitarian functions. An example of an "act harmful to the enemy" could be if a hospital is used as a base to launch an attack, as a weapons depot, or as a shelter for able-bodied combatants. In such cases, the hospital may become a legitimate military objective and hence a target. Nevertheless, there is a presumption that hospitals retain their civilian status in cases of doubt.
Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza have been widely criticised as unlawful and in violation of IHL. These attacks have resulted in the deaths and injuries of patients and medical staff, as well as the destruction of medical facilities and equipment. Israel has been accused of blocking humanitarian aid and committing collective punishment, which amounts to war crimes.
In conclusion, international law provides strong protection for hospitals during armed conflicts. While there are exceptions to this protection, Israel's actions in bombing hospitals in Gaza appear to violate IHL and have had devastating consequences for the civilian population.
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Human cost: the impact on patients and staff
The human cost of Israeli strikes on hospitals has been devastating, with a heavy toll on both patients and staff. People seeking treatment or shelter in hospitals have been injured or killed, and those requiring ongoing medical care have been put at risk of death. For example, Samih al-Masri, a 50-year-old double amputee, was sheltering in a hospital, unable to evacuate. He said, "If they bomb the hospital, I will be dead. I know I cannot move."
Israeli strikes have also resulted in the destruction of medical equipment and supplies, hindering the ability of healthcare workers to treat patients effectively. Hospitals have been left without electricity, fuel, and water, and have struggled with shortages of food and essential medicines. This has put the lives of those requiring medical care in further jeopardy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the repeated orders to evacuate hospitals amount to a "death sentence for the sick and wounded."
Medical personnel have not been spared from harm, with reports of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical staff being injured, arrested, or killed. In one instance, the bodies of paramedics were found with their medical gloves still on, indicating they were targeted while treating the wounded. The director of one hospital was taken into custody, and his fate remains unknown. These attacks on medical workers have resulted in a shortage of medical staff, further compromising the ability to provide care to those in need.
The psychological impact on both patients and staff cannot be overlooked. Those seeking treatment or shelter in hospitals have been subjected to fear, trauma, and anxiety due to the constant threat of attacks. Medical personnel, already working in challenging conditions, face additional stress and emotional distress as they struggle to provide care amidst destruction and resource shortages.
The strikes have also resulted in the displacement of patients and staff, forcing them to evacuate or seek alternative accommodations. This disruption has likely caused further physical and mental health challenges, particularly for those with ongoing medical needs or vulnerabilities.
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Humanitarian aid: blocked by Israel
Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip has prevented civilians' access to essential items such as water, food, and medicine. This blockade amounts to collective punishment and is a war crime. Israel has an obligation to facilitate humanitarian aid as a warring party and ensure food and medical supplies for Gaza's population as the occupying power.
Since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023, more than 11,000 people have been killed, including over 4,500 children, and over 1.5 million people have been displaced. The Israeli government's blockade has severely constrained hospitals, causing them to run out of essential medicines and basic equipment. While Israeli authorities have allowed minimal humanitarian aid into Gaza, they have continued to block the entry of fuel, which hospitals need for their generators.
Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and left almost the entire population of 2.3 million without shelter, safety, food, clean water, and essential medical care. These attacks have also destroyed Gaza's already struggling health system and shown a flagrant disregard for the duty to respect and protect the wounded and sick, as outlined in the oldest Geneva Conventions.
Israeli demonstrators and protest groups have blocked aid delivery to the Gaza Strip on multiple occasions. These blockades have focused on crossings such as Kerem Shalom, Nitzana, and Ashdod, intending to prevent the transfer of supplies and humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli authorities have also imposed vague and restrictive registration rules on aid organizations, endangering their staff and providing broad grounds for Israel to block aid.
The obstruction caused by these rules has resulted in millions of dollars' worth of humanitarian aid being stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt. As a result, essential humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, water, and shelter items, has not reached the civilians in Gaza, contributing to the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
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International response: calls for investigations
International responses to Israel's bombing of hospitals have included widespread condemnation and calls for independent investigations. The UN Human Rights Office has documented multiple cases of Israeli attacks on hospitals in Gaza, raising serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law and the protection of medical personnel and facilities during warfare.
The UN Security Council has debated Israeli attacks on hospitals and the alleged misuse of medical facilities by Hamas, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, calling for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability. Türk has emphasised the need for independent investigations into the incidents and has described the situation in Gaza as a “human rights catastrophe." The representative of the Republic of Korea at the UN has also expressed concern, noting that Israel's attacks on hospitals, such as the Kamal Adwan Hospital, have occurred despite international laws protecting medical personnel and facilities.
Several countries, including France, Denmark, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, have voiced concern over the situation of healthcare personnel in Gaza, with China's representative calling on Israel to "stop turning hospitals into battlefields." The UN experts, including Special Rapporteurs on human rights, violence against women and girls, and the right to adequate housing, have also decried the bombing of hospitals and schools as crimes against humanity, warning of the risk of genocide against the Palestinian people.
There have been calls for the suspension of military assistance and arms sales to Israel by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and other countries until its forces stop committing widespread abuses against Palestinian civilians. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have emphasised the need for investigations into Israel's actions as war crimes and for ensuring that essential humanitarian aid reaches Gaza's civilian population.
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Frequently asked questions
Israel is not allowed to bomb hospitals. Under international humanitarian law, medical personnel and hospitals are protected unless they are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy outside their humanitarian function. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability.
Israel's attacks on hospitals have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and left millions without access to shelter, safety, food, clean water, and essential medical care. They have also caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including the destruction of medical equipment and facilities.
There has been widespread global revulsion at Israel's conduct, with calls for independent investigations into the incidents and the alleged misuse of medical facilities by Hamas. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and other countries have been urged to suspend military assistance and arms sales to Israel.
