Logan Reid
Israel has been accused of bombing hospitals and schools in Gaza, with some claiming that these attacks are part of a deliberate strategy. The attacks have resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, as well as the destruction of vital infrastructure. Israel has defended its actions by claiming that these locations are being used by Hamas for military purposes, but these claims have been disputed, and Israel has been criticized for failing to provide sufficient evidence. The international community has widely condemned Israel's actions, with UN experts declaring the bombings as crimes against humanity and calling for the prevention of genocide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 October to 22 November 2023 |
| Hospitals bombed | Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Nasser Hospital |
| Schools bombed | Al-Buraq School, Osama bin Zaid School, Zeitoun School, Hafsa al-Faluja School, Rufaida school, Zayd ibn Haritha school, Asmaa School, Al-Shuhada school, Al-Aishiya school, Fahmi al-Jarjawi school, Halawa, al-Rafaa’i, Nusiba, Halima Sa’dia |
| Number of schools bombed | 6 |
| Number of people killed | 120+ |
| Number of people injured | Dozens |
| People taking shelter in the schools | 4000+ |
| Reason for Israeli strikes | Hamas militants alongside civilians |
| UN's take | Violation of international humanitarian and criminal law |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel's attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza have been described as war crimes and crimes against humanity by UN experts
- The attacks have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, including children
- There are allegations that Hamas is using schools and hospitals for military purposes, which Israel denies, claiming Hamas is using them for military purposes
- The attacks have damaged over half of the healthcare, education, and water facilities in Gaza, according to a Harvard University study
- The international community has been criticised for its inaction in the face of Israel's attacks
Israel's attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza have been described as war crimes and crimes against humanity by UN experts
The COI report also noted instances of Israeli attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers in Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) documented more than 136 attacks on health care services in the occupied Palestinian territory, including 59 attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of at least 16 health workers. Israeli bombardment killed 15 staff of the United Nations Refugee Works Agency (UNRWA) and four Palestine Red Crescent paramedics in an ambulance.
The UN experts expressed outrage at the deadly strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which killed more than 470 civilians and trapped hundreds under the rubble. They also raised serious humanitarian and legal concerns over Israel's tightening of its siege on the enclave, depriving 2.2 million people of essential food, fuel, water, electricity, and medicine. The experts stated that there is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza, including the risk of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Israel's attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza have had devastating consequences, causing mass suffering, trauma, and displacement. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) highlighted the case of a five-year-old malnourished child in need of adequate food and care, reflecting the dire humanitarian situation on the ground. The UN has repeatedly called for immediate ceasefires and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
While Israel justifies its actions based on security concerns, the scale and nature of the attacks suggest a systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure. A study by Harvard University researchers revealed that more than half of healthcare, education, and water facilities in the Gaza Strip were damaged by Israeli attacks between October 7 and November 22, 2023. The study concluded that the damage was clustered on these facilities, indicating a pattern of intentional destruction.
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The attacks have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, including children
The attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza have resulted in a devastatingly high number of civilian casualties, including thousands of deaths and injuries. The death toll includes a significant number of children, with 18,500 children reported to have been killed out of the 60,000 total Gazan fatalities. These numbers are truly tragic and represent an immense loss of life.
On 17 October 2023, an Israeli strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City killed more than 470 civilians and trapped hundreds more under the rubble. This strike was preceded by two warnings from Israel that the hospital would be attacked if people did not evacuate. On the same day, an airstrike on an UNRWA school in the Al Maghazi refugee camp took place, sheltering around 4,000 displaced individuals. These concurrent attacks on civilian infrastructure had catastrophic consequences.
In addition to the direct attacks on schools, the Israeli military has also targeted educational facilities, resulting in substantial damage. For instance, the Zeitoun School in Gaza City was struck by an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, leading to at least 24 deaths and 30 injuries. Similarly, the Hafsa al-Faluja School was attacked in the same month, causing at least 15 fatalities. These incidents exemplify a pattern of assaults on educational institutions, endangering the lives of students and staff.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented over 136 attacks on healthcare services in the occupied Palestinian territory, with 59 of those attacks occurring in the Gaza Strip alone. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 healthcare workers and 4 Palestine Red Crescent paramedics. The targeting of healthcare facilities and workers further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis and hinders the provision of essential medical care to those affected by the conflict.
The attacks have had a profound impact on the mental and physical well-being of children in Gaza. Many have lost their lives, while others have been left traumatized by the constant fear, sounds of bombing, and breakdown of essential services. The destruction of schools and healthcare infrastructure has disrupted their education and access to basic healthcare, compounding the challenges faced by children in the region.
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There are allegations that Hamas is using schools and hospitals for military purposes, which Israel denies, claiming Hamas is using them for military purposes
There have been numerous allegations that Hamas uses schools and hospitals for military purposes, including launching rockets and locating military equipment near civilian homes and in schools and hospitals. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Hamas used the Al-Buraq School in Gaza as a base, killing Hamas commander Ahmed Siam, who they alleged was holding 1,000 Gazan residents hostage at Rantisi Hospital. The IDF and Shin Bet domestic security agency also released footage that appeared to confirm that Hamas militants were using hospitals in the Gaza Strip to protect themselves from IDF strikes.
However, Hamas has denied these allegations, claiming that they are false pretexts for targeting civilians. Amnesty International has stated that it has not seen any credible evidence to support Israel's claims, and that the Israeli military has not provided sufficient proof. Similarly, the New York Times reported that there was no conclusive evidence of a vast network of tunnels, and that Gazan civilians have been pushing Hamas fighters away from their schools to prevent Israeli attacks.
Human rights groups have emphasised that, regardless of whether Hamas used human shields, Israel must still abide by international law and the principle of proportionality. The UN has raised concerns about the placement of civilians in areas regarded as military objectives, and the specific targeting of hospitals, schools, and safe areas by Israel.
A study by Harvard University researchers revealed that more than half of healthcare, education, and water facilities in the Gaza Strip were damaged by Israeli attacks between 7 October and 22 November 2023, indicating that the damage was not random but highly clustered on these facilities.
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The attacks have damaged over half of the healthcare, education, and water facilities in Gaza, according to a Harvard University study
Several sources, including the UN, have reported that Israel has been bombing hospitals and schools in Gaza, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The World Health Organization documented more than 136 attacks on health care services in the occupied Palestinian territory, including 59 attacks on the Gaza Strip, which killed at least 16 health workers.
A study by Harvard University researchers and their collaborators supports these reports. The study, titled "Nowhere and No One is Safe": Spatial Analysis of Damage to Critical Civilian Infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, found that Israeli attacks between October 7 and November 22, 2023, damaged over half of the healthcare, education, and water facilities in all five governorates of the Gaza Strip.
The study utilized high-resolution satellite radar imagery and open-source data maps to evaluate damage and identify health, education, and water facilities. Spatial analysis was then employed to overlap the damage across the Gaza Strip. The lead author of the study, Yara M. Asi, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida, stated that the data showed that the damage was "'highly clustered' on health, education, and water facilities, indicating that it was not random.
The study's findings provide evidence of intentional targeting and potential violations of international humanitarian law. Dr. Raz Segal, Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, stated that the Israeli military's actions lend "additional credence to the provisional ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 26, 2024, that Israel is plausibly perpetrating genocide in its attack on Gaza."
The attacks on hospitals and schools in Gaza have been widely condemned as crimes against humanity, with calls for the prevention of genocide and the protection of humanitarian workers. The damage to these critical civilian infrastructures has severe implications for the health and well-being of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.
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The international community has been criticised for its inaction in the face of Israel's attacks
Israel has been accused of bombing hospitals and schools in the Gaza Strip. On 17 October 2023, an Israeli strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City killed over 470 civilians and trapped hundreds more under the rubble. The same day also saw an Israeli airstrike on an UNRWA school in the Al Maghazi refugee camp, which was sheltering around 4000 displaced people.
The international community has been criticised for its inaction in the face of these attacks. UN experts have expressed outrage and warned of serious humanitarian and legal concerns, calling the attacks crimes against humanity. The UN Security Council has been criticised for its inaction, and there have been calls for immediate intervention to protect Palestinian civilians.
Several countries have expressed concern over the attacks and urged de-escalation, including Egypt, Chile, and Bahrain. Some have specifically criticised Israel's actions, including Algeria, which strongly condemned the "brutal Israeli attacks" and urged the international community to protect the Palestinian people. Mauritania also described a deadly strike on a hospital in Gaza as "genocide". Bolivia cut ties with Israel, citing "crimes against humanity".
On the other hand, at least 44 nations have condemned Hamas and its tactics as terrorism. Countries like Canada and Brazil have also condemned the attacks on Israel and expressed support for a two-state solution.
Amnesty International has also concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, stating that Israel has unleashed "hell and destruction" on Palestinians with total impunity. The organisation's research found that Israel repeatedly failed to take feasible precautions to spare civilians, committing multiple crimes under international law.
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Frequently asked questions
Israel has claimed that Hamas militants are using hospitals and schools as bases, and that these buildings are being used to store weapons and house fighters. However, the UN has condemned these bombings as crimes against humanity, with UN Special Procedures experts stating that there is no justification for such attacks, and that they constitute a brutal war of extermination.
The World Health Organization has documented more than 136 attacks on health care services in occupied Palestinian territories, with 59 attacks on the Gaza Strip alone. This has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 health workers and 30,000 Palestinian civilians. The targeting of schools has also led to the deaths of over 120 people, including children.
The international community has been criticised for its inaction, with calls for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the strikes, and the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has strongly condemned Israel's escalated assaults on schools. The United Kingdom’s delegate has urged Israel to clarify the whereabouts of detained medical staff, and the United States has stressed that Israel has a moral imperative to prevent civilian casualties.
