A United Nations report accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza by deliberately attacking the health system.
Published on the UN website, the report of its Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, alleges that Israel's actions led to the collapse of the health system, disproportionately affecting children .
The 24-page report highlights that Israeli security forces carried out airstrikes against hospitals, causing damage to buildings and surroundings, as well as multiple casualties.
He observed that they laid siege to hospital facilities, prevented the entry of medical goods and equipment, and obstructed access for humanitarian agencies.
Israel responds
However, Israel rejected the report's conclusions, calling them scandalous in a statement from its mission in Geneva on Friday.
“This latest report is another blatant attempt by the CoI to delegitimize the very existence of the State of Israel and obstruct its right to protect its population while covering up the crimes of terrorist organizations,” the statement said.
“This report blatantly describes Israel's operations in terror-infested healthcare facilities in Gaza as a matter of politics against Gaza's healthcare system.”
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Israel also rejected the report's conclusions pointing to widespread and systematic abuses of Palestinian prisoners that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Some conclusions from the UN
The UN report cited WHO data indicating that between October 7, 2023 and July 30, 2024, Israel carried out 498 attacks on healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip.
He said a total of 747 people were directly killed in those attacks, another 969 were injured and 110 facilities were affected.
The WHO reported that 78 percent of attacks between October 7, 2023 and February 12 were carried out by military force, while 35 percent involved obstruction of access and 9 percent involved militarized operations search and arrest.
It also noted that the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 500 medical staff had been killed between October 7 and June 23, adding that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that 19 of its staff or volunteers had been killed since October 7 and that many others had been killed. been arrested and attacked.
As of July 15, it said 20 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were completely out of operation, only 16 were still partially functioning and 11 were severely overcrowded with a capacity of only 1,490 beds.
Impact on children, reproductive health care
The report further highlighted how Israel's attack affects reproductive health services and pediatric care.
According to the report, direct attacks on health facilities, including those offering sexual and reproductive health care and services, have affected an estimated 540,000 women and girls of reproductive age in Gaza.
“In April, it was reported that only two of the 12 partially operational hospitals offering sexual and reproductive health care were actually capable of providing such services,” he noted.
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“Children have died as a result of direct attacks on hospitals, and medical teams have noted that the high number of child deaths is likely due to the fact that children represent the majority of patients treated in hospitals for blunt and penetrating trauma.” .
He further alleged a direct attack on children, as medical professionals told the Commission that they had treated children with direct gunshot wounds, which were difficult to treat due to lack of basic medical supplies and poor sanitary conditions.
“Attacks on health care facilities have also indirectly affected children's health and significantly increased child mortality and morbidity,” he added.