A report by the United Nations has determined that Israeli airstrikes on and around hospitals in Gaza have pushed the healthcare system in the Palestinian territory to the brink of collapse.
The document from the UN human rights office expressed serious concerns regarding Israel’s adherence to international law.
“Israel’s ongoing pattern of lethal assaults on hospitals and their vicinity in Gaza, along with the accompanying combat, has driven the healthcare system to a near-total collapse, severely impacting Palestinians’ access to health and medical services,” stated the UN human rights office.
The 23-page report, titled ‘Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza,’ examined events from October 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
The report emphasized that international humanitarian law specifically protects medical personnel and hospitals, provided they refrain from committing acts detrimental to the enemy outside their humanitarian role.
It pointed out that Israel’s repeated assertions that Gaza hospitals were being improperly utilized for military purposes by Palestinian groups were “vague”.
“Insufficient public information has been provided to substantiate these claims, which remain broadly stated and, in some instances, contradict publicly available data,” the report asserted.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk remarked that Gaza hospitals have turned into a “death trap”.
“In addition to the relentless bombing and the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the one place Palestinians should feel secure has sadly become a death trap,” he remarked.
“The imperative to protect hospitals during warfare must be upheld by all parties, at all times.”
The conflict in Gaza escalated following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This resulted in 1,208 fatalities, primarily among civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli official data.
As a result of Israel’s retaliatory military operations, over 45,500 individuals in Gaza have lost their lives, the majority of whom are civilians, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled area, which the UN deems reliable.
Individuals navigate through rubble from collapsed buildings after an Israeli airstrike targeting the Kemal Advan hospital in Beit Lahia on December 29.
The report concluded with a demand for credible investigations into the documented incidents, highlighting the importance of independent inquiries given the “limitations” of Israel’s justice system concerning its armed forces’ actions.
“It is critical to conduct independent, thorough, and transparent investigations into all these incidents, with full accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law that have occurred,” Turk emphasized.
“All medical personnel who have been arbitrarily detained must be released immediately.”
“It should also be a priority for Israel, as the occupying authority, to facilitate access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population and to emphasize the restoration of medical facilities that have been damaged over the past 14 months of intense conflict.”
The Al Awda Hospital stands as one of the few functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza; however, it faces severe damage from recent airstrikes, lacks adequate medical supplies, and is struggling to treat patients.
Its director, Mohammed Salha, reported that Israeli forces have surrounded the hospital.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he stated that there are no oxygen units available in the north, “so we have to manage cases without oxygen cylinders now; we don’t have an ICU in the north, so patients in need of intensive care must be sent to Gaza hospital.”
He warned that newborns will perish due to the absence of incubators in north Gaza, adding that since October 19, there have been no ambulances operating “in the north of the Gaza Strip”.
Dr. Salha claimed that Israel is targeting hospitals to force people to relocate, not because of Hamas as they assert.
“They are targeting hospitals, which is unrelated to Hamas; they are aware that if there are no hospitals, people will be compelled to move,” he said.
“There are no Hamas individuals on the surface or underground,” he added.
Concerns over potential UNWRA ban ‘truly distressing’
The Executive Director of UNICEF in Ireland voiced worries regarding upcoming legislation aimed at banning UNWRA from conducting humanitarian operations in northern Gaza.
During an appearance on RTÉ’s News at One, Peter Power described the current scenario as “truly distressing”.
“We are genuinely alarmed by this legislation. The dismantling of UNWRA’s infrastructure in Gaza would lead to a total and complete collapse of any humanitarian systems,” he warned.
“This would create a scenario that is truly unimaginable and apocalyptic if it were to occur. The stakes are incredibly high for countless individuals, families, and children,” Mr. Power stated.
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Mr. Power refuted allegations that the director of the Kamal Adwan hospital, which has recently been subjected to multiple attacks, had connections to terrorism after his recent capture and detention.
“The Human Rights agency of the United Nations states that these accusations are unfounded and increasingly vague. The attacks are systematic in nature,” he noted.
“Hospitals are under systematic assault, which violates international humanitarian law. Those responsible must ultimately be held accountable because currently, only two hospitals in the north of Gaza remain operational for tens of thousands of people,” he further mentioned.
“Tens of thousands depend on these hospitals for humanitarian and medical assistance, and the failure to provide this care is resulting in fatalities. That is the core issue,” Mr. Power added.
Despite ongoing discussions regarding a potential ceasefire, Mr. Power stated that many people remain skeptical about the situation.
“We are all pessimistic as there is no immediate indication of a ceasefire on the horizon. We hear about constant negotiations and supposed breakthroughs, but nothing concrete materializes,” he remarked.
“What the people of Gaza urgently require now is peace. Only peace can facilitate an environment where humanitarian aid can be delivered on a large scale, both into and around Gaza. That is what the populace desires as we approach 2025,” he concluded.
