The Human Rights Commission alleges that Israel has deliberately damaged the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza.
An autonomous human rights group has levied charges against Israel, claiming they intentionally targeted the healthcare sector in the Gaza Strip during their conflict with Hamas. The group, headed by Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was assigned in 2021 to probe human rights infringements in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. It operates independently of the UN, a body frequently accused by Israel of favoritism. Initially, the Israeli government remained silent in response.
In its report, the group accused Israel of deliberately killing, capturing, and tormenting Palestinian medical personnel, attacking vehicles, and prohibiting permits for medical evacuations from the Gaza Strip. This, they argued, represents war crimes and crimes against humanity. "Israel must promptly halt its unparalleled, intentional destruction of healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip," Pillay declared in a statement. "By assaulting healthcare facilities, Israel is directly attacking the right to health, which carries grave long-term detrimental effects on the civilian population, particularly children."
Israel has defended strikes on Gaza Strip hospitals by alleging that radicals were concealed there. However, medical personnel have continuously disputed these assertions. Moreover, the group asserted that numerous adults and children in the Gaza Strip had endured widespread mistreatment. Israeli authorities had reportedly sexually violated and humiliated male detainees. This mistreatment was embedded in Israel's far-right law enforcement under Minister of Police Itamar Ben Gvir.
Additionally, Palestinian extremists were said to have mistreated and sexually abused hostages in the Gaza Strip, according to the report. It urged the release of all hostages taken captive by Hamas and other extremists on October 7, 2023.
The health system in the Gaza Strip, specifically the healthcare sector, was targeted by Israel during their conflict with Hamas, as stated in the group's report. This intentional attack on healthcare facilities can lead to grave long-term detrimental effects on the civilian population, particularly children, according to Navi Pillay.
