Critical Impact of Israeli Attacks on Gaza Hospitals: UN Human Rights Report 2024

In a report released on December 31, 2024, by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza's hospitals and their devastating impact on the healthcare system of the region were documented. Covering the period from October 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the report shows that these attacks have nearly collapsed Gaza's healthcare system, leaving millions of Palestinians without access to medical services. According to international humanitarian law, hospitals and medical personnel must be granted special protection, provided they are not being used for military purposes. However, the report highlights numerous instances of violations and disregard for these principles. A prominent example in the report is the attack on the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which resulted in the destruction of healthcare infrastructure in northern Gaza. Hospital staff and patients were forced to flee or were detained, with reports of torture and mistreatment emerging. In some cases, the bodies of patients were found with medical equipment still attached to them. Overall, at least 136 attacks on 27 hospitals and 12 other medical centers were recorded during this period, resulting in the deaths of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and civilians, as well as widespread destruction of healthcare infrastructure.
The report stresses that intentional attacks on hospitals and civilians, in the absence of valid military objectives, represent a clear violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, and could be classified as a war crime. Additionally, where these destructions are part of broader policies targeting the civilian population, such actions may be classified as crimes against humanity. Israel has claimed that hospitals were being used by Palestinian armed groups for military purposes, but sufficient evidence to support these claims has not been provided, and some available information contradicts these allegations.
The report also emphasizes that the consequences of these attacks go beyond immediate impacts. Pregnant women, due to lack of access to pre- and post-natal care, have faced life-threatening risks, and many newborns have died as a result. Moreover, many injured individuals have lost their lives due to the lack of timely medical treatment. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, by the end of June 2024, 77,704 Palestinians had been wounded, and more than 500 healthcare workers had been killed in these attacks. The report calls for independent and transparent investigations into these attacks and full accountability for the violations committed. It further emphasizes that Israel, as the occupying power, is obligated to ensure access to healthcare services and to prioritize the rebuilding of the destroyed healthcare system.

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