Israel attacks and raids push Gaza healthcare ‘to brink of collapse’
A report by the UN Human Rights Office raised grave concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law, documenting numerous attacks on medical personnel and facilities in Gaza. International humanitarian law mandates the protection of medical staff and hospitals unless used for acts harmful to the enemy. However, the report suggests that the sanctity of healthcare spaces has been severely undermined. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the attacks, highlighting the critical need to uphold the protection of hospitals during armed conflict.
The report follows the incapacitation of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major healthcare facility in northern Gaza, after a raid by Israeli forces. Staff and patients were reportedly forced to flee or detained, with allegations of torture and mistreatment. The hospital director remains missing, after some reports that he also has been detained, adding to the region’s humanitarian crisis. The destruction of healthcare infrastructure has left northern Gaza’s population without adequate medical care, raising the possibility of war crimes, including collective punishment, as defined under international law. The deliberate targeting of medical facilities and personnel, as documented, may also constitute crimes against humanity.
The report details at least 136 strikes on hospitals and other medical facilities, causing extensive civilian casualties and damage. While Israel has claimed that Palestinian armed groups used hospitals for military purposes, the evidence provided remains insufficient or contradictory. Even if such allegations were substantiated, the principle of proportionality and distinction must still be upheld under international humanitarian law. The deliberate or indiscriminate targeting of civilians and medical facilities remains a violation, regardless of the circumstances.
The conflict’s broader impact has been devastating. By June 2024, over 500 medical professionals had reportedly been killed, and Gaza’s healthcare system had been decimated, exacerbating preventable maternal and child mortality. Notably, the Al Shifa Medical Complex, raided twice by Israeli forces, was left in ruins by April 2024. Reports of mass graves discovered at the site, including bodies with medical equipment still attached, underscore the severity of alleged violations. The report also documents the use of heavy weapons and munitions with wide-area effects in densely populated areas, leading to indiscriminate harm. Mr. Türk called for independent investigations, accountability for violations, and immediate measures to restore Gaza’s healthcare capacity, urging Israel to prioritise access to adequate medical care for the Palestinian population.