Gaza‘s Healthcare on the Brink as Israel Targets Hospitals, UN Warns
The United Nations has sounded the alarm on the deteriorating state of Palestinian healthcare in the Gaza Strip, with hospitals bearing the brunt of Israeli attacks. According to a UN report published today, " Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near Gaza hospitals, and the associated fighting, has pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effects on Palestinians’ access to medical assistance."
The UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that Israel’s claims of targeting hospitals due to Palestinian armed groups using them as cover are "vague" and lack sufficient evidence. "Until now, the public has not been provided with sufficient information to corroborate these allegations," the OHCHR said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk decried the situation, saying, "Gaza hospitals have become death traps. As if the relentless bombing and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe has become a death trap."
Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza has led to a significant decrease in its population. According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the population has decreased by 6% since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.
On Tuesday, Yemeni Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for two missile attacks on Israel, marking the latest in a series of cross-border strikes since the conflict began.
In response, the Israeli air force (IAF) targeted and eliminated Anas Muhammad Saadi Masri, commander of the Islamic Jihad’s rocket unit in north Gaza, earlier this month. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on Saadi Masri, stating that he was responsible for numerous rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Elsewhere, France confirmed it had launched airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that French warplanes conducted targeted strikes against the terrorist group on Sunday.
Sources: UN, X (formerly Twitter), Anadolu Agency, and Israeli military
