GAZA, (PIC)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Wednesday that the Israeli army has repeatedly targeted medical workers and healthcare facilities in Lebanon, documenting incidents that may constitute “war crimes.”
The rights group highlighted three significant attacks, including a strike on a civil defense center in central Beirut on October 3, 2024, which killed seven paramedics. Another attack on October 4 struck an ambulance near the Marjayoun Hospital, killing seven additional paramedics.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of at least 163 health and rescue workers and damaged 158 ambulances and 55 hospitals across the country since the past year.
HRW urged Israel to cease unlawful attacks and called on its allies to suspend arms transfers to it due to the risk of grave abuses.
“The Israeli military’s unlawful attacks on medical workers and hospitals are devastating Lebanon’s already frail healthcare system and putting medical workers at grave risk,” Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher for HRW, said.
He emphasized that such strikes severely hinder injured civilians’ access to urgent medical care.
HRW conducted interviews with eight individuals, including paramedics and hospital officials, and visited the site of the attack on the Islamic Health Committee’s civil defense center, where it additionally interviewed three residents and witnesses to the attack.
The rights group also analyzed photographs, videos, and satellite imagery related to the incidents. They sent inquiries to the Israeli military regarding their findings but received no response.
The Israeli government has accused Hezbollah of using medical facilities for military purposes, but HRW found no evidence justifying the attacks under international humanitarian law.
HRW stressed that individuals associated with armed groups, including medical personnel, should not be targeted unless they are directly participating in hostilities.
HRW has previously called for investigations into similar attacks by the Israeli army in Gaza, urging the suspension of military assistance to Israel by its allies, given the real risk that they will be used to commit grave abuses.
“With more than a hundred health workers killed, Israeli strikes in Lebanon are putting civilians, including medical workers, at grave risk of harm,” Kaiss said. “Countries should take action to prevent further atrocities, including by suspending arms sales and military assistance to Israel.”
