Gaza Hospitals Under Siege: UN Report Details Catastrophic Healthcare Crisis
A new United nations report paints a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, detailing the devastating impact of repeated attacks on hospitals and medical facilities. The report, released earlier this year, documents a shocking pattern of violence against healthcare infrastructure, raising serious concerns about potential war crimes.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk delivered a stark assessment: “As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe actually became a death trap,” he stated on Tuesday. The report underscores the critical need for the protection of medical facilities during armed conflict.
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) meticulously documented at least 136 strikes on 27 of Gaza’s 38 hospitals and 12 additional medical facilities between October 2023 and June 2024. These attacks resulted in “critically important casualties among doctors, nurses, medics and other civilians,” and caused “significant damage, if not complete destruction of civilian infrastructure,” according to the report.
International humanitarian law explicitly protects medical personnel and hospitals, provided they aren’t used for military purposes. Even in such cases,any attack must adhere to principles of distinction,proportionality,and precautions. The OHCHR clearly states that intentionally targeting hospitals, civilians, or launching disproportionate attacks constitute war crimes. Moreover, the deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities under certain circumstances may amount to collective punishment, another war crime.
The report notes that Israel,in most instances of hospital attacks,claimed the facilities were misused by Palestinian armed groups. However, the UN report counters this, stating, “However, insufficient information has so far been made available to substantiate these allegations, which have remained vague and broad, and in some cases appear contradicted by publicly available information.” The report further emphasizes that, “If these allegations were verified, this would raise serious concerns that Palestinian armed groups were using the presence of civilians to intentionally shield themselves from attack, which would amount to a war crime.” Hamas and medical staff have vehemently denied these accusations.
The consequences of these attacks extend far beyond the physical destruction.The report highlights the devastating impact on maternal and child health: “Many women are giving birth with no or minimal pre- and postnatal care, increasing the risk of preventable maternal and child mortality,” it states. The report also cites reports of newborn deaths due to mothers’ inability to access postnatal care or birthing facilities. The already fragile healthcare system has been crippled, with an 80% decrease in hospital beds and the tragic loss of over 500 medical professionals by june, according to the Gaza health ministry. The report concludes with a harrowing account: “Many injured reportedly died while waiting to be hospitalized or treated. Even those who managed to recieve critical treatment, including surgery, received it without proper bedding and facilities, and were often discharged prematurely due to a lack of space.”
The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times,” Türk stressed, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for international action.
Israel-Palestine Conflict: Healthcare Access Under Scrutiny
the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has cast a harsh spotlight on the availability of healthcare for Palestinian civilians. A recent report from the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has highlighted concerns about access to medical services, prompting calls for autonomous investigations and renewed focus on humanitarian aid.
The Israeli government, in response to the OHCHR report, stated that it’s military implemented ”extensive measures” to “mitigate civilian harm and minimize disruption to medical services.” These measures, according to the government, included creating evacuation routes from hospitals, supplying essential medical equipment and fuel, and establishing field hospitals to bolster healthcare capacity.
However, the report also includes a stark counterpoint from the Israeli government, which accused Hamas of “methodically abus[ing] the protection of medical facilities.” The government alleges that hamas “embeds its tunnel system and infrastructure within the premises of medical facilities as a matter of strategy, and utilizes them as arms caches and accessible HQs for its operatives.”
Calls for Independent Investigations and Improved Access
The OHCHR’s findings have led to calls for thorough and impartial investigations into the incidents documented in the report. The need for independent scrutiny is crucial to ensure accountability and clarity in a conflict zone where access to information is often limited. The situation mirrors similar challenges faced in other global conflicts, underscoring the need for international cooperation in humanitarian efforts.
The OHCHR’s report emphasizes the responsibility of Israel,as the occupying power,to guarantee access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population. This responsibility extends beyond simply providing emergency aid; it encompasses ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of healthcare systems within the occupied territories. This echoes concerns raised by human rights organizations globally about the impact of conflict on civilian healthcare.
The OHCHR official, Türk, stressed that ensuring and facilitating access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population “must also be a priority for Israel, as the occupying power.”
Domestic Implications and Parallels
The situation in Palestine raises important questions about the international community’s role in ensuring humanitarian access during armed conflicts. The challenges faced by Palestinian civilians in accessing healthcare resonate with concerns about access to healthcare in other conflict zones around the world,highlighting the universal need for protection of civilians and the right to healthcare in times of war. The U.S., as a significant player in international affairs, has a vital role to play in promoting accountability and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
The ongoing debate underscores the complexities of navigating humanitarian crises in active conflict zones and the critical need for independent verification of claims from all parties involved.
