Shocking report from HRW: Israel's attacks in Lebanon are war crimes!
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented three attacks by Israel on health facilities in Lebanon, labeling them "clearly war crimes." The statement emphasized that these attacks caused significant harm to humanitarian personnel and cannot be justified by military necessity. HRW has called on the UN to launch an urgent international investigation.
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In a statement released by HRW, it was noted that they examined Israel's attacks on a civil defense center in the Bachoura neighborhood of central Beirut on October 3, an ambulance belonging to the Islamic Health Committee near the entrance of Marjayoun Hospital in southern Lebanon on October 4, and the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in the town of Bint Jbeil, also in southern Lebanon.
The statement noted that HRW sent a letter to the Israeli military on October 7 summarizing its findings and posing questions, but received no response. It was recorded that three attacks, which clearly constitute war crimes, have been documented, in which Israel unlawfully struck health personnel, transport vehicles, and facilities in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 14 health workers.
The statement included the following: "The Israeli government accuses Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport fighters and hospitals to hide weapons and equipment. Human Rights Watch found no evidence that these three facilities were being used for military purposes at the time of the attacks, which would justify stripping them of their protected status under international humanitarian law."
The statement noted that in the year leading up to October 25, Israel killed at least 163 health and civil defense workers in Lebanon and damaged 158 ambulances and 55 hospitals, stating: "Since there is no military justification for the attacks on health facilities, these attacks are unlawful. Such attacks on medical facilities, if carried out with criminal intent—that is, intentionally or recklessly—constitute war crimes."
CALL TO THE UN, ISRAEL, AND ITS ARMS-SUPPLYING ALLIES
The statement pointed out that Israeli attacks have devastated an already fragile health system in Lebanon, calling for: "The Israeli military must immediately cease its unlawful attacks on health workers and health facilities, and Israel's allies should suspend arms transfers to Israel, considering the risk that the weapons provided could be used in serious violations."
The statement emphasized that the United Nations (UN) must urgently launch an international investigation into the recent conflicts in Lebanon and northern Israel.