[News] Euro-Med accuses Israeli army of deliberately targeting Lebanon’s health sector

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Euro-Med accuses Israeli army of deliberately targeting Lebanon’s health
sector

Sunday 6-October-2024 - https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/10/06/326542/
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GENEVA, (PIC)

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has accused the Israeli army of not
providing supporting documentation for its claim that resistance fighters
transport combat equipment in ambulances in Lebanon, calling such a claim a
“mere pretext for Israel’s flagrant violations against the Lebanese relief
and ambulance sector.”

In a statement on Sunday, Euro-Med described Israeli attacks on civilian
targets, including the war crime of targeting health facilities protected
by international humanitarian law, as “crimes against humanity.”

“According to the toll released by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, since
the start of Israeli attacks on October 8, 2023, and up until October 3,
2024, Israel has targeted 45 medical centers, 128 ambulances and fire
engines. This resulted in the deaths of 97 paramedics and the wounding of
188 others,” Euro-Med explained.

“Israel also targeted 17 centers and 62 vehicles belonging to the Islamic
Health Authority in Lebanon, killing 68 paramedics and wounding 98,”
according to Euro-Med.

“Furthermore, 18 paramedics were killed and 62 injured when 57 Islamic
Message Scout vehicles and 15 medical facilities were targeted.”

“The Lebanese Ambulance Authority also lost seven paramedics when a medical
facility and two of its cars were attacked. Three volunteers were injured
when the Israeli army attacked three medical facilities run by the
International Amel Association and a Lebanese Red Cross vehicle. As for the
Lebanese Civil Defense, 9 medical centers and 6 vehicles were targeted. 4
paramedics were killed, and 25 others were injured during the attacks.”

“In related Israeli actions, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, the Lebanese
Civil Defense received an Israeli threat ordering its members not to travel
to the targeted areas, namely the southern suburb of Beirut, which had been
subjected to the most violent raids since the attacks on Lebanon expanded
on September 23, 2024. The threat also stated that they would be targeted
if they went near the raid sites in the suburb to aid the victims.”

“This occurred after calls were made to Civil Defense centers across
Lebanon on September 26, 2024, requesting the evacuation of centers that
were under threat in order to incite panic and disrupt relief efforts.”

“Based on information from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 1,974 people
were killed in Lebanon between October 8, 2023, and October 3, 2024,
including 127 children, 261 women, and 97 paramedics, with 9,384 injured.
Israeli bombings have damaged over 10 hospitals. The most recent attack
occurred at Bint Jbeil Hospital on Friday evening, October 4, 2024, and
UNIFIL ambulance crews were not allowed to enter to rescue casualties.

“The Israeli army’s actions, along with their targeting of the relief and
health sectors, are a clear breach of international humanitarian law, which
states unequivocally that medical personnel, both military and civilian,
must always be respected and protected,” Euro-Med underlined.

“According to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court and Article 85, paragraph 5, of the First Additional Protocol of
1977, intentional attacks against healthcare workers and relief workers are
considered war crimes,” Euro-Med pointed out.

“The attacks in Lebanon bear witness to the Israeli army’s intention to
deliberately kill civilians and non-combatants and prevent aid and relief
to them, disregarding international law and the urgent priority to always
distinguish between civilians and combatants,” Euro-Med affirmed.

Euro-Med called on the international community to take immediate action to
compel Israel to stop its crimes against relief workers in Lebanon and
ensure their protection.

“The international community must stop these illegal attacks, prevent
further escalation in the region, impose effective sanctions on Israel, and
hold it accountable for its ongoing crimes against civilians and the
defenseless,” Euro-Med said.
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