Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it has documented three attacks involving “apparent war crimes” in which the Israeli army “unlawfully” struck medical workers and healthcare facilities in Lebanon.
These included attacks on paramedics at a civil defence centre in central Beirut on October 3, and an ambulance and a hospital in southern Lebanon on October 4, killing 14 paramedics, the group said.
Since cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah started in October last year, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 163 health and rescue workers across Lebanon. They also damaged 158 ambulances and 55 hospitals, the report said citing figures from the Health Ministry.
“The Israeli military’s unlawful attacks on medical workers and hospitals are devastating Lebanon’s already frail healthcare system and putting medical workers at grave risk,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at HRW.
“Strikes on medical workers and healthcare facilities also compound risks to injured civilians, severely hindering their ability to receive urgently needed medical attention,” he added.
HRW urged Israel’s allies to suspend the transfer of arms to Israel “given the real risk that they will be used to commit grave abuses”.
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