Palestinians Urge International Action to Stop Israeli Attacks on West Bank Hospitals

Thursday 05 December 2024 - 10:07

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has called for urgent international intervention to end Israel's attacks on healthcare facilities in the occupied West Bank. This plea follows an Israeli raid on the Arab Specialized Hospital in Nablus, where an injured Palestinian patient, identified as Ayman Ghanem, was arrested.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Palestinian Ministry condemned the raid as a "flagrant violation" of international laws and conventions that protect treatment centers and patients. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Ghanem was apprehended at the hospital after being injured in a drone attack near Tubas the day before. Israeli authorities confirmed the arrest, stating that Ghanem was one of three individuals involved in a shooting attack in August at Mehola Junction, in which an Israeli citizen was killed. The Israeli military also claimed that Ghanem was planning further attacks, posing an "imminent threat to Israeli civilians."

In response, the Palestinian Ministry of Health called for immediate action from international institutions and the Red Cross to stop Israel's attacks on medical centers and staff. The Ministry urged the protection of the Palestinian health system and its personnel, emphasizing that international humanitarian law ensures the protection of health establishments, medical staff, patients, and medical transportation.

The Israeli military, in its defense, stated that its forces would continue to act to prevent terrorism and ensure the safety of Israeli civilians. However, the Palestinian Ministry's concerns highlight a long-standing issue with Israeli military raids on hospitals in the West Bank. In recent years, Israeli forces have conducted numerous raids to arrest Palestinians or retrieve the bodies of those killed in attacks. On some occasions, military personnel have carried out targeted killings within hospital premises.

One such incident occurred in January when Israeli forces, disguised as medical personnel, shot and killed three Palestinians inside Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin. Undercover operatives, armed with assault rifles, were captured on security cameras moving through the hospital corridors before carrying out the killings.

The ongoing attacks on Palestinian hospitals, as well as the targeting of medical staff and patients, have drawn international condemnation. The Palestinian Ministry of Health continues to call for greater protection of healthcare workers and facilities under international law.