In the midst of an ongoing conflict between the Israeli military and Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, a grim picture emerges as reports of Israeli strikes on hospitals surface. The Palestinian government’s media office in Gaza has claimed that eight hospitals were directly targeted by Israeli forces in the past three days, resulting in numerous casualties.
The conflict, which has been ongoing for 34 days, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the region. During this latest round of violence, the Israeli military reportedly conducted airstrikes on residential areas in Shawa Square and al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza, as well as in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Jabalia in the north, and Deir al-Balah in the center of the territory. These strikes resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to many.
Shockingly, the Israeli military is accused of bombing not only residential areas but also the gate of the al-Nasr Children’s Hospital and the courtyard of the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Such attacks on hospitals are deemed war crimes under international humanitarian law, with specific prohibitions established by 16 international agreements and United Nations resolutions aimed at safeguarding health facilities.
The Gaza media office has decried these actions, labeling them as inhumane and in clear violation of international norms. They have reported that eight hospitals were targeted by Israeli forces in just the last three days, leading to a significant number of casualties. Since the onset of the Israeli aggression on October 7th, 18 hospitals in Gaza have been forced out of service, severely hampering the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
The toll on the Palestinian people has been devastating. Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, a staggering 10,569 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 4,324 children, while 26,475 others have been wounded. These statistics underscore the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a resolution to end the suffering of the people in Gaza.
These developments are likely to raise international concerns and further intensify calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and the destruction of critical infrastructure. The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile, and diplomatic efforts to broker a lasting peace must be accelerated to prevent further tragedy and violations of international law.
