Amnesty International demands an investigation into Israeli attacks on health facilities in Lebanon, classifying them as potential war crimes. Amidst ongoing conflict, Israel accused Hezbollah of misusing ambulances, which Hezbollah denied. The toll on healthcare during the war has prompted calls for accountability, further intensified by Lebanon’s reported large number of casualties and extensive damage needing costly reconstruction.
Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Israeli assaults on ambulances, paramedics, and healthcare facilities during the recent conflict with Hezbollah, categorizing these actions as potential war crimes. This declaration was made following a truce agreement on November 27, which concluded over a year of hostilities between the two parties, including two months of intense fighting involving ground troop deployment by Israel.
During the conflict, the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of misusing ambulances from the Islamic Health Committee for military purposes; however, Hezbollah has denied these claims. Amnesty International stated that the repeated unlawful attacks on medical facilities, ambulances, and healthcare workers during the war must be scrutinized as violations of international law.
The organization urged the Lebanese government to empower the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute crimes committed on Lebanese territory, emphasizing the necessity for victims to receive appropriate remedies. Previously, the then Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported severe attacks on healthcare resources, including 67 hospital assaults, resulting in numerous casualties and targeting emergency response entities.
Amnesty’s investigation between October 3 and 9 revealed four Israeli strikes on healthcare facilities and vehicles that resulted in the deaths of 19 healthcare workers and injuries to 11 others, alongside significant destruction of medical resources. The organization asserted it found no evidence indicating that the targeted ambulances or facilities were engaged in military functions during these attacks.
Despite reaching out to the Israeli military for justification in November, Amnesty reported a lack of response. The rights advocacy group highlighted that the Israeli military had failed to provide sufficient evidence supporting its claims of military targets at the sites of the strikes, thereby jeopardizing the already fragile healthcare infrastructure in Lebanon.
According to Lebanese officials, the ongoing hostilities have led to over 4,000 fatalities and extensive destruction, particularly in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut, with reconstruction needs projected to exceed $10 billion as stated by local authorities.
Amnesty International’s call for inquiry into Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s health sector emphasizes the urgent need for accountability in potential war crimes. The casualties and destruction reported during the conflict raise significant concerns regarding the protection of medical facilities under international law. The ongoing humanitarian crisis and the lack of adequate responses necessitate thorough investigations to ensure justice for the victims and restore a functioning health care system in Lebanon.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
