Tessa Quinn
Israel has been accused of targeting schools and hospitals in the Gaza Strip, with a United Nations investigation concluding that Israel has committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying its reproductive healthcare facilities. Israel has allegedly violated medical neutrality, a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, with the IDF deliberately targeting ambulances, health facilities, and schools with airstrikes. Israel has denied these allegations, claiming that Hamas has repeatedly misused civilian infrastructure like schools and hospitals to store weapons, house fighters, and coordinate attacks against Israel, putting civilians in harm's way. However, Israel has provided no evidence to support these claims, and the specific targeting of hospitals and schools is considered a violation of international law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of attacks | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Hospitals targeted | Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Meiss Ej Jabal Hospital, Al Basma IVF Centre, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Noura al-Kaabi specialised dialysis centre, Al-Quds Hospital, Beit Hanoun Hospital, al-Najjar Hospital |
| Schools targeted | UN-run boys' school in Rafah, Beit Hanoun secondary school for boys, UNRWA school in Al Maghazi refugee camp |
| Number of civilian deaths | 470, 12 (including 8 children) |
| Number of civilian injuries | 25, 100+ |
| Other civilian infrastructure targeted | Water infrastructure |
| Number of healthcare facilities damaged | More than half |
| Number of healthcare workers killed | 16, 4 Palestine Red Crescent paramedics, 1 Magen David Adom ambulance driver |
| Number of UNRWA staff killed | 15 |
| Israeli rationale | Targeting Hamas bases, Hamas use of hospitals, schools, and ambulances |
| Evidence of Israeli targeting | Spatial analysis of damage, witness accounts, UN location coordinates |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel's alleged targeting of schools and hospitals in Gaza is considered a war crime
- Israel claims it targets Hamas bases in schools and hospitals
- Israel's actions have been condemned by the UN, US, and humanitarian organisations
- Israel's attacks on Gaza's infrastructure are considered a form of ethnic cleansing
- The UN has called for independent investigations into Israel's attacks on hospitals
Israel's alleged targeting of schools and hospitals in Gaza is considered a war crime
Israel's alleged targeting of schools and hospitals in Gaza has sparked accusations of war crimes, with some claiming that these acts violate international humanitarian law. According to the Geneva Conventions, which form the core of international humanitarian law, civilian hospitals and schools are protected and should not be targeted in military conflicts. Any military operation around or within hospitals must take steps to spare and protect patients, medical staff, and other civilians, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
In recent years, there have been several reports of Israeli attacks on health and educational facilities in Gaza. For example, on July 27, 2024, Israel attacked a makeshift field hospital set up in the Khadija school in Deir al-Balah, resulting in 30 deaths and over 100 injuries. The Israeli military claimed they were targeting a Hamas base in the school, but provided no evidence to support this assertion. Additionally, in November 2023, as part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, the IDF besieged and targeted the Indonesia Hospital, with footage showing the destruction of the specialised dialysis centre.
Human Rights Watch and other organisations have stated that Israel has provided no evidence to justify stripping hospitals of their special protections. On March 13, 2025, a United Nations investigation concluded that Israel had committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying its reproductive healthcare facilities, breaking medical neutrality, which is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNRWA, and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) have all reported the deaths of their medical personnel due to Israeli attacks.
The specific targeting of hospitals and schools is a serious violation of international law and can be considered a war crime. Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), defines war crimes as including "intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to ... education ... [or] charitable purposes ... [or] hospitals". Additionally, the ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has emphasised that schools and hospitals are protected unless their protective status has been lost due to military use. The burden of proving the loss of protective status rests with the attacking party.
The attacks on schools and hospitals in Gaza have had detrimental effects on children and the local population, undermining their access to education, healthcare, and other critical civilian infrastructure. The destruction of these facilities can also lead to forced closures and disrupted functioning, further impacting the lives of those in the conflict zone.
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Israel claims it targets Hamas bases in schools and hospitals
Israel has been accused of targeting schools and hospitals in Gaza, with a United Nations investigation concluding that Israel has committed genocidal acts by systematically destroying reproductive healthcare facilities. Israel has denied these accusations, claiming that it targets Hamas bases in schools and hospitals.
On 27 July 2024, Israel attacked a makeshift field hospital in the Khadija school in Deir al-Balah, killing 30 people and injuring over 100. The Israeli military claimed that they were targeting a Hamas base in the school, alleging that militants used the compound to plan attacks and store weapons. However, no evidence was provided to support these claims, and the presence of weapons does not always void the protected status of a field hospital.
Similarly, Israel has been accused of targeting hospitals in Gaza, including the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning hospital in North Gaza. Israel claims that Hamas has transformed hospitals into tools for terror, using them to store weapons, house fighters, and coordinate attacks. In response, the United States representative stressed that Israel must prevent civilian casualties, even as it battles Hamas.
Despite these claims, critics argue that Israel has not provided sufficient evidence to support its allegations. Human Rights Watch stated that the Israeli government has presented no evidence to justify stripping hospitals of their special protections. Additionally, a United Nations investigation concluded that Israel committed genocidal acts by systematically destroying reproductive healthcare facilities, breaking medical neutrality, which is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza, with schools and hospitals bearing the brunt of the attacks. The targeting of these facilities has led to widespread condemnation and calls for independent investigations to ensure accountability and protect civilians.
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Israel's actions have been condemned by the UN, US, and humanitarian organisations
Israel's actions in Gaza have been widely condemned by the international community, including the UN, US, and various humanitarian organisations.
The United Nations has been a vocal critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and water infrastructure. The UN Secretary-General has urged the Israeli government to reduce civilian casualties and protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. In March 2025, a United Nations investigation concluded that Israel had committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying its reproductive healthcare facilities, breaking medical neutrality, which is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. The World Health Organization has also expressed deep concern over the targeting of healthcare facilities.
The US has also faced criticism for its role in the conflict. The Trump administration's suspension of visitor visas for Palestinians from Gaza has been condemned by humanitarian organisations, who warn that this decision will directly impact the lives of children wounded by Israeli bombardments. Rights advocates view this move as evidence of American complicity in Israel's collective punishment of Palestinians.
Additionally, more than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations have called for an end to arms transfers to both Israel and Palestinian armed groups. They have urged UN member states to stop fuelling the crisis in Gaza and prevent further loss of civilian life. These organisations highlight the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with high levels of food insecurity, trauma cases overwhelming medical facilities, and the deaths of hundreds of aid and health workers.
The Lebanese health ministry has also specifically condemned the IDF's shelling of the Meiss Ej Jabal Hospital, stating that Israeli authorities were "fully responsible for this unjustifiable act."
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Israel's attacks on Gaza's infrastructure are considered a form of ethnic cleansing
Israel's attacks on Gaza's infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, are considered by some to be a form of ethnic cleansing. Israel has been accused of systematically targeting civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools and medical facilities, resulting in significant damage and destruction. This has led to allegations of war crimes and violations of international law.
For example, in July 2024, Israel attacked a makeshift field hospital in the Khadija school in Deir al-Balah, killing 30 people and injuring over 100. Israel claimed that the school was being used as a base by Hamas militants, but provided no evidence to support this assertion. Additionally, Israel has been accused of targeting reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza, such as the Al Basma IVF center, which was destroyed in a strike in December 2023, resulting in the loss of most of the frozen IVF embryos in the Gaza Strip.
Human Rights Watch and other organizations have stated that Israel's actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. They argue that Israel has systematically forced the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza through unclear and inconsistent evacuation orders, blocking of aid, and destruction of infrastructure. Israel's attacks on schools and hospitals contribute to the breakdown of civilian life-sustaining infrastructure, making it difficult for the population to access essential health and educational services.
Furthermore, there is evidence of Israeli officials advocating for ethnic cleansing and making statements that indicate genocidal intent. For instance, former Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya'alon has spoken of "conquering, annexing, and ethnic cleansing," while another official called for the killing of 50 Palestinians for every Israeli killed, including women and children. Legal scholars and historians have interpreted these statements, along with the pattern of Israeli conduct towards Palestinians, as evidence of genocidal intent.
In conclusion, Israel's attacks on Gaza's infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, are considered by many to be a form of ethnic cleansing. The systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, coupled with forced displacement and statements indicating genocidal intent, has led to widespread condemnation and allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The international community has been urged to intervene and protect the Palestinian population from these atrocities.
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The UN has called for independent investigations into Israel's attacks on hospitals
Israel's attacks on hospitals and schools have been widely reported, with the UN calling for independent investigations into the incidents. Israel has been accused of committing genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying its healthcare facilities and schools.
In a report published by the UN Human Rights Office, Israel's pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza was detailed, raising serious concerns about its compliance with international law. The report, which covered attacks between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, found that the Israeli military's actions had pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effects on Palestinians' access to healthcare. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the situation as a "human rights catastrophe" and called for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for the West Bank and Gaza, Rik Peeperkorn, stated that hospitals have become battlegrounds in Gaza, and that the Strip's health sector is being "systematically dismantled and pushed to the breaking point". This sentiment was echoed by other humanitarian organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNRWA, and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), who reported the deaths of their medical personnel.
Israel has alleged that hospitals were being improperly used for military purposes by Hamas, but has not provided sufficient evidence to support these claims. Despite this, Israel has continued to target healthcare facilities and schools, with reports of Israeli forces disguising themselves as medical staff and civilian Muslim women to carry out attacks.
The UN has called for independent, thorough, and transparent investigations into all Israeli attacks on hospitals, healthcare infrastructure, and medical personnel, as well as the alleged misuse of such facilities. The investigations aim to ensure accountability and protect civilians, particularly those in Gaza, who are bearing the brunt of the attacks.
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Frequently asked questions
Israel has denied targeting schools and hospitals, but instead, has claimed to be targeting Hamas bases and terrorists. However, Israel has been accused of committing genocidal acts and war crimes by systematically destroying healthcare, education, and water facilities in Palestine.
A study by Harvard University researchers revealed that more than half of healthcare, education, and water facilities were damaged by Israeli attacks between October 7th and November 22nd, 2023, in the Gaza Strip. The study used high-resolution satellite imagery and spatial analysis to evaluate the damage.
The World Health Organization has expressed deep concern over the attacks on hospitals and schools in Palestine. The United Nations has also called for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability.
The attacks have resulted in the death and injury of civilians, including children, and the destruction of medical equipment and infrastructure. For example, on August 3, 2022, an Israeli missile strike outside a UN-run boys' school in Rafah killed 12 people, including 8 children, and wounded at least 25.
There have been widespread calls for independent investigations into Israel's actions and for the protection of humanitarian workers. The International Criminal Court and Human Rights Watch have stated that Israel's claims about Hamas's use of hospitals are exaggerated or unfounded.
