The United Nations human rights office has said it is “deeply worried” about the Israeli raid on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza.
“The raid appears to be part of a pattern of attacks by Israeli forces striking essential life-saving civilian infrastructure in Gaza, especially hospitals. Our Office has documented similar raids in Gaza City, North Gaza, Middle Gaza and in Khan Younis, with serious consequences for the safety of patients, medical and other staff, as well as civilians sheltering in these facilities,” the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement on Thursday.
OHCHR said the impact on civilians of attacks on health facilities and restrictions on humanitarian aid has been “appalling.”
“Medical facilities are protected infrastructure under international humanitarian law. They are entitled to special protection and must not be the object of attack nor be used outside their humanitarian function for acts harmful to the enemy,” the rights office said.
“Even if Israel contends that a medical facility has lost its protection as a result of being used for acts harmful to the Israeli forces, it must nevertheless comply with the principles of precautions and proportionality.”
