As the Gaza Strip grapples with a power blackout and Israeli airstrikes, health facilities and ambulances in the besieged enclave have allegedly become targets of deliberate attacks by Israeli forces, sparking concerns of war crimes.
At al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, a paramedic, Talal Taha, described how an emergency response team was targeted during a mission to aid the injured. Taha’s colleagues were killed, and he was injured. He emphasized that their mission was purely humanitarian, and there was no justification for the attack.
This incident is not an isolated one. Health authorities and medical organizations in Gaza have accused Israel of deliberately targeting ambulances and health facilities, which constitutes a breach of international laws classifying such actions as war crimes.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) condemned the “intentional targeting of medical teams” and reported the deaths of four paramedics in less than half an hour, despite prior coordination. PRCS called for accountability and immediate investigation into these war crimes.
The Gaza health ministry also denounced the “direct and systematic attacks on ambulances,” highlighting that such actions blatantly violate international laws protecting health facilities during armed conflicts.
The ongoing hostilities in Gaza have resulted in a significant number of casualties, including hundreds of children and women, with more than 5,600 people wounded. Fifteen ambulances and nine health institutions, including the Ministry of Health building, the Rimal Clinic, and the International Eye Center, have been affected.
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) reported 16 medical personnel killed, 18 ambulances destroyed, and eight medical facilities either totally or partially damaged. Sohaib Safi, medical coordinator for MSF in Gaza, asserted that the damage provides “very clear evidence” of intentional attacks on medical aid by Israeli forces.
Ambulances attempting to reach areas under fire are targeted, preventing the evacuation of the injured. This has led to taxis and private cars taking up the task of transferring wounded individuals to hospitals to avoid attracting attention.
While Israel has claimed to provide warnings to civilians before striking buildings, Palestinians on the ground have often been hit without any prior notice. The situation raises concerns about an impending ground invasion.
As the conflict intensifies, hospitals face dwindling resources. The neonatal unit at al-Shifa Hospital has been partially damaged due to bombardments in the vicinity. The health system is overwhelmed, and medical supplies are running low. The power crisis hinders the ability to provide care to an ever-growing number of patients, including those in need of cancer treatment.
The acute shortage of medicines, blood for transfusions, essential medical equipment, and desalinated water compounds the humanitarian crisis. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has expressed concern over the tightening blockade and the potential for a catastrophic ground invasion, highlighting the dire situation Palestinians are facing.
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Source: AlJazeera
