A UN report has exposed a deadly pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza’s hospitals, pushing the healthcare system to the brink of collapse and denying Palestinians access to vital medical services. Covering incidents from October 2023 to June 2024, the report raises grave concerns about Israel’s blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, which protects medical personnel and facilities during conflict.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the attacks: “Hospitals, meant to be sanctuaries, have become death traps. Protecting healthcare in wartime is not optional—it is a legal and moral imperative.”

The report documents the catastrophic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, with 136 airstrikes targeting 27 hospitals and 12 medical facilities. Kamal Adwan Hospital, vital to northern Gaza, was obliterated, forcing patients and staff to flee. Many were arrested, with reports of torture and ill-treatment. The hospital director’s fate remains unknown.

These attacks killed countless doctors, nurses, and civilians, destroying infrastructure essential to Gaza’s survival. The UN underscored that targeting hospitals and civilians, conducting indiscriminate strikes, and inflicting disproportionate damage constitute war crimes. Under certain conditions, the systematic destruction of healthcare facilities may amount to collective punishment—a violation of international law.

Women and newborns have borne the brunt of this brutality. Pregnant women often give birth without access to care, leading to preventable maternal and infant deaths. Newborns have died because their mothers were unable to access essential postnatal check-ups or medical facilities.

Israel frequently claims hospitals are misused by Palestinian armed groups but provides little credible evidence. The report highlights contradictions between these claims and publicly available information, further questioning the legality of these actions.

The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system is not incidental; it is part of a broader policy targeting civilians and their means of survival. Such actions, if proven systematic, could rise to the level of crimes against humanity. For Palestinians, this is not merely a violation of law—it is an assault on their very right to exist.