Amnesty International Advocates for War Crimes Investigation into Israeli Assaults on Lebanon’s Health Sector
Amnesty International has called for investigations into Israeli attacks on health facilities and ambulances during its conflict with Hezbollah, labeling these acts as potential war crimes. The organization emphasized the need for Lebanon to allow the International Criminal Court to investigate these incidents and highlighted significant loss of life and damage to health care infrastructure resulting from these attacks.
Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Israeli military strikes on ambulances, health facilities, and paramedics during a recent conflict with Hezbollah, classifying these actions as potential war crimes. Following a ceasefire agreement on November 27, which ended over a year of hostilities, Amnesty has highlighted the need for accountability concerning the assaults on vulnerable health care elements, which are protected under international law.
During the reported conflict, the Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah was misusing ambulances to transport fighters and equipment, a claim the group has vehemently denied. Amnesty International urged the Lebanese government to grant the International Criminal Court jurisdiction to probe the crimes committed on Lebanese soil, emphasizing the importance of ensuring justice for victims.
Lebanon’s former health minister stated that during the hostilities, there were 67 recorded attacks on hospitals, with 40 hospitals being directly targeted, resulting in 16 casualties. Furthermore, 238 assaults on emergency responders were noted, leading to 206 deaths, along with attacks on 256 emergency vehicles, further crippling the health care system.
Amnesty’s investigation into four specific Israeli attacks on health facilities in Beirut and southern Lebanon revealed the deaths of 19 health care workers, with 11 others wounded, in addition to multiple ambulance and medical facility damages. Notably, the organization found no evidence to suggest that the facilities were being utilized for military purposes at the time of these attacks.
Despite reaching out to the Israeli military regarding its findings, Amnesty has yet to receive a response. The organization criticized the Israeli military for failing to offer adequate justifications or evidence supporting its claims of military targets at the attack sites, stressing the detrimental impact these repeated assaults had on Lebanon’s already fragile health care infrastructure.
Reports indicate that over 4,000 individuals lost their lives due to the conflict, with extensive destruction seen in southern and eastern regions as well as parts of Beirut. The estimated cost for reconstruction is projected to exceed $10 billion, a significant burden on the Lebanese state.
In summary, Amnesty International’s assertions regarding the unlawful targeting of health care facilities by Israeli forces during the conflict underscore the need for accountability and legal investigations. The extensive damage and loss of life necessitate a thorough inquiry into the events, with the aim of upholding international law and ensuring justice for the victims affected by these conflicts.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
