Human Lives Human Rights: In a shocking violation of international humanitarian law, the Israeli army launched a deadly rocket attack on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on the evening of Wednesday, October 25th. The attack resulted in the massacre of over five hundred innocent women and children, highlighting a blatant disregard for civilian life.
Hospitals are universally recognized as safe havens during conflict, and their targeting is strictly prohibited. The International Committee of the Red Cross outlines key principles of humanitarian law during armed conflicts:
- The lives and physical integrity of those disabled from war and those not directly involved in conflicts must be protected.
- All parties to the conflict must care for the injured under their authority.
- The right to life, dignity, individual rights, and beliefs of captured armed forces and civilians under enemy rule must be respected.
- Parties to the conflict must distinguish between civilians and armed forces to prevent harm to civilian property and lives.
Despite these principles, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister of Israel, along with the Israeli army’s spokesperson, have implicitly accepted responsibility for this heinous act. This admission confirms Tel Aviv’s involvement in the attack.
This assault on Al-Ahli Hospital is more than a war crime; it is a clear example of a crime against humanity. Several factors support this classification:
- High-ranking Tel Aviv officials have accepted responsibility for the attack.
- Israel has a history of targeting civilian locations such as schools and United Nations headquarters, as seen in the 58-day war of 2014.
- The high death toll suggests extensive prior planning and organization.
- Prior to the hospital attack, the Israeli regime falsely promised safety to Gaza’s civilian population if they migrated south. However, they subsequently attacked these civilians, resulting in seventy casualties.
In light of these facts, it is clear that the Israeli regime’s attack on Al-Ahli Hospital constitutes a crime against humanity.
