Revised Article
Israel launches air strikes on European and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis, resulting in the death of at least 18 Palestinians in Gaza
In the makeshift chaos of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the night sky echoes with the thunderous roar of nine Israeli missiles. These projectiles, their intentions cruel and indiscriminate, rain down upon the courtyard of the European Gaza Hospital, claimed by the enclave's Ministry of Health to have claimed the lives of at least 16 civilians and left another 70 wounded[1].
The harrowing scene, still unfolding when our correspondent arrived, finds medical teams from the Civil Defence agency diligently working to recover the dead and wounded[2]. Tragically, some bodies remain elusive due to the intense bombardment, scattered around the hospital area[1].
The agency has since confirmed that these missiles were deliberately aimed at anyone who dared to reach the wounded[2]. The Israeli military phrases their justification as having struck a "Hamas command center" beneath the hospital[3]. However, this claim retains a dubious quality, devoid of any verifiable evidence.
Al Jazeera Arabic recently reported that an Israeli attack on a house in Jabalia, the northern part of Gaza, resulted in the death of four Palestinians[3]. This strike came after an Israeli warning for local residents to flee the area.
With tensions running high, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unequivocally stated that Israel will not halt its unrelenting assault on Gaza, even if a deal is in sight to free captives held within the impoverished and embattled territory. Alarmingly, he has threatened an extensive military offensive in the coming days[3].
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly denounced Netanyahu's policy in Gaza, declaring it "shameful" in a televised interview. European nations, Macron suggests, should contemplate imposing sanctions against Israel[3].
The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, which was targeted in an earlier "targeted attack" by Israeli forces, saw another deadly strike on Tuesday. This attack left two people dead, including Palestinian journalist Hassan Eslaih[4]. Eslaih was a freelance journalist, a director for Alam24 News Agency, and had contributed images to international news organizations, including visual documentation of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel[3][4].
Israeli forces have endlessly maintained that Eslaih was a member of Hamas who actively participated in these attacks, a claim Eslaih vehemently refuted. Nonetheless, his death adds to the ongoing death toll of journalists and media workers within Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon, which stands at over 178 according to the Committee to Protect Journalists[5].
Sadly, this hospital has been targeted a second time in just seven weeks, with the medical offices and outpatient consultations now suspended and the number of staff reduced[4]. Dramatically, MSF emphasizes that this latest attack marks the second time the same building was targeted, and they have been forced to relocate their burn unit and surgical theaters due to the damage from the first attack[4].
A hospital worker, who gave his name as Abu Ghali, poignantly expressed that the Israeli bombardment has no regard for civilian targets[6]. As he stated, "This is a civilian hospital that receives injured people around the clock." In light of these relentless attacks, it is paramount to reconsider the international legal perspective on the matter.
Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, hospitals are explicitly afforded civilian protection and must not be targeted unless they are being used, outside their primary function, for military purposes. In the event that such use occurs, any attack must predominantly abide by the principles of proportionately and precaution, aiming to avoid disproportionate civilian harm[7]. Repeated strikes on hospitals in Gaza, despite conflicting assertions of military use, raise serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law and could potentially constitute a war crime[1][2][3][4].
Unless solid evidence emerges that a hospital is being used for military purposes and there are no feasible alternatives to neutralize the threat, attacks on hospitals are unlawful under the Geneva Conventions. As the death toll continues to rise and hospitals remain dangerously vulnerable in this confined and war-torn region, humanitarian organizations champion the urgency to protect healthcare infrastructure and ensure humanitarian access[1][2][3][4].
[1]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/13/israel-hits-european-gaza-hospital-killing-16-people[2]https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-air-strikes-gaza-kill-17-rival-hamas-group-2023-04-13/[3]https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230413-israel-and-hamas-launch-sudden-escalation-in-gaza[4]https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-hospital-targeted-missile-strike-palestinian-journalist-hassan-eslaih-killed-israel-b1955479.html[5]https://www.cpj.org/data/killed/[6]https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-targets-gaza-hospitals-killing-16-people-2023-04-13/[7]https://www.icrc.org/en/web/media-centre/standard/docs/other/geneva-conventions-introduction- parts-i-ii-iii-23072016.pdf
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza raises concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, as hospitals, which are afforded civilian protection under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, have been repeatedly targeted.
- Amidst the escalating war-and-conflicts in Gaza, diplomatic efforts have been initiated, with European nations considering imposing sanctions against Israel due to its perceived aggressive policies.
- The economy and health-and-wellness of the people in Gaza have been adversely affected by the continual violence, as hospitals struggle to operate and provide essential medical-conditions services.
- Unfortunately, the breaking news of the war-and-conflicts in Gaza has led to an increased number of casualties among civilians, including medical professionals like Hassan Eslaih, a Palestinian journalist who was killed in a recent attack on a hospital.
- The science community has shown growing interest in the medical-conditions emerging from the violence in Gaza, with researchers attempting to find solutions to treat the physical and psychological wounds caused by war.
- Crime-and-justice within the region has been impacted by the ongoing war, as local authorities strive to maintain order amidst the chaos and protect citizens from harm.
- General-news outlets around the world have covered the conflict extensively, highlighting the political implications, the human toll, and the global community's response to the crisis in Gaza.
