UN report says Israeli claims that Palestinian armed groups are using Gaza hospitals for military purposes ‘vague’ Israel’s continued attacks Regarding health facilities protected by international law.

The report released by the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday said that Israeli attacks on hospitals and surrounding areas in the Gaza Strip have pushed the area’s health system to “the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effects on Palestinian access to health and medical services.” “.

The 23-page report looks at the period from October 7, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

During this period, there were at least 136 attacks on 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities, resulting in numerous casualties among doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and other civilians, while causing significant damage to, if not outright destruction of, civilian infrastructure.

“Death Trap”

The report stresses that international humanitarian law clearly protects medical personnel and hospitals as long as they do not engage in or be used to carry out acts harmful to the enemy outside of their humanitarian functions.

“Publicly available information to date is insufficient to substantiate these allegations, which remain vague and broad and in some cases appear to contradict publicly available information,” the UN report said.

The report added that intentional destruction of medical facilities “may constitute a form of collective punishment, which also constitutes a war crime”.

“The shelters where Palestinians were supposed to feel safe have actually turned into death traps,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. “Protecting hospitals during war is vital and must always be respected by all parties.”

Israel has escalated attacks on the besieged Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza in recent days, detain its directors.

The World Health Organization stated Kamal Adwan HospitalThe remaining 15 critically ill patients, 50 nursing staff and 20 health workers were transferred to the nearby Indonesian Hospital on Friday, which the hospital said was “destroyed and non-functional”.

Hamas rejected Israeli claims that its members were operating at the hospital throughout the incident. The 15-month war in Gazasaying there were no warriors there.

Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pincus told Al Jazeera that even if Israel did provide evidence to support the claim that Hamas was using medical facilities for military operations, it would not justify attacks on hospitals.

“There’s a difference between big headlines … and failing to come up with evidence to support that,” he said.

While the Israeli military said more than 250 Hamas militants were captured at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Pincus said even if that were true, it “doesn’t mean it’s a reason to paralyze the hospital.” reason”.

transparent investigation

The report called for a credible, independent investigation into the attack on medical facilities, highlighting the “limitations” of Israel’s judicial system in dealing with the conduct of its armed forces.

“It is vital that all of these incidents are independently, thoroughly and transparently investigated and that all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law that occur are held fully accountable,” Turk said.

He also urged that “all arbitrarily detained medical personnel must be released immediately.”

“Ensuring and promoting adequate health care for the Palestinian people must also be a top priority for Israel as an occupying power,” Turk said.

Israel’s war on Gaza kills people More than 45,500 people According to the Ministry of Health, the majority of those in the besieged areas are civilians.