UN condemns Israeli destruction of health system in Gaza

(Patria) - The UN Office for Human Rights yesterday condemned Israeli attacks on hospitals in the Gaza Strip, stating that they have destroyed the health system of the Palestinian enclave and raised many questions about Israel's compliance with international law.

In a report documenting various attacks between October 12, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the UN writes that they have had devastating consequences on Palestinians' access to healthcare.

The 23-page document concludes that the offensive on the Gaza Strip has destroyed the local healthcare system.

The destruction of the health system in Gaza and the scale of killings of patients, staff, and other civilians in these attacks are a direct consequence of non-compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights, the UN warns.

In recent days, Israel has also carried out operations against hospitals in Gaza, which, among others, have drawn criticism from the leaders of the World Health Organization.

The Israeli army accuses Hamas of using hospitals as command centers for military operations, and declares those arrested there as potential militants, Reuters reports.

The UN also touched upon such arguments, but emphasized that more information needs to be published for them to be legitimate.

The report states that intentional attacks on hospitals and locations where the sick and wounded are located, if proven not to be military targets, are war crimes.

The UN warns that the systematic violation of civilian rights also constitutes crimes against humanity. Israel rejects these claims.

The UN stated that the Israeli government, in response to the report, wrote that the army has taken extensive measures to prevent civilian casualties and minimize disruptions, including providing aid and evacuation routes and establishing makeshift hospitals.

Despite this, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk claims that the report shows a clear disregard for international laws and human rights.

- As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the only refuge where Palestinians should have felt safe has actually become a deadly trap - said Turk.

In Israel's military campaign in the enclave, according to local health authorities, more than 45,500 people have been killed, and the entire territory has been turned into ruins.