In yet another violation of International Humanitarian Law, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has surrounded a hospital in Gaza with tanks. Local reports state that the hospital still functions, but is facing heavy restrictions on the movement of staff and patients. This violates the principle of medical neutrality, which protects hospitals and other healthcare facilities from military actions by armed forces.
The hospital is located in an area where several buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli air and artillery strikes. In response, health professionals and international organizations have raised calls for an immediate investigation into the strikes and Israeli military action around the hospital, which puts the lives of staff and patients at risk and exacerbates an already desperate medical situation.
The IDF has also targeted other healthcare facilities in Gaza, leading to the partial or complete destruction of several hospitals. In at least one case, an Israeli strike hit a medical clinic in a densely populated area, possibly killing a three-year-old girl and injuring five other people. These repeated attacks have left several hospitals, clinics, and medical centers damaged or destroyed, exacerbating an already dire healthcare situation for the people of Gaza.
The destruction of these healthcare facilities has already caused serious shortages of medical supplies and equipment, as well as overwhelmed medical staff and limited resources. Furthermore, these civilian targets have put the lives of thousands of Palestinians in danger, with many children suffering from the lack of essential medical treatment and care.
The events in Gaza highlight the need for an immediate and impartial international investigation into Israel’s actions in the region. Everyone has the right to access medical care without facing violence or military attacks. Whilst the IDF justifies its actions as necessary to protect the state of Israel, all military and political actors must abide by humanitarian principles and refrain from targeting civilians or interfering with the work of medical personnel.
