Hospital and Medical Facilities

Since October 7, 2023, the relentless bombing has led to the destruction of more than 300 hospitals and medical facilities, leaving countless communities without vital healthcare services. This staggering loss not only impacts immediate medical care but also threatens the long-term health of populations already facing unimaginable challenges. The consequences of such devastation ripple through families and communities, as the urgent need for medical attention becomes an insurmountable barrier in a landscape where hope seems to vanish with every crumbling wall. Doctors and surgeons navigating the chaotic landscape of civilian injuries face immense challenges as they contend with a staggering variety of trauma, including gunshot wounds, severe burns, blast injuries, loss of limbs, shrapnel injuries, and severe lacerations. The overwhelming influx of patients often strains limited resources, forcing healthcare professionals to make rapid, life-altering decisions under pressure. Gunshot wounds may penetrate vital organs, while blast injuries can shatter bones and damage soft tissues, leading to complex cases requiring immediate surgical intervention. As of October 2024, the demographics of injured civilians reflect a stark and troubling reality. The casualties predominantly affect women and children, who account for roughly 65% of the injured population.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has targeted numerous hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and damage to the healthcare infrastructure. According to the United Nations, as of late October 2024, over 30 hospitals have been partially or completely destroyed, leaving thousands without access to essential medical care. The UN has emphasized the dire consequences of these actions, highlighting that the ongoing conflict has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis, with healthcare workers facing extreme challenges in providing care amidst relentless Israeli bombardment.

Reports indicate a troubling pattern of abduction involving doctors, paramedics, and medical workers in Israel. As of October 2024, it is estimated that over 150 medical professionals have been detained or abducted under various circumstances since the escalation of conflict in the region. Many of these individuals play critical roles in providing emergency medical care, often risking their lives to serve those in need. The targeting of healthcare workers not only undermines medical ethics but also severely impacts the healthcare system's capacity to respond in crisis situations, leaving countless individuals without essential services.

Medical facilities, injured patients, and medical workers are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law, particularly through the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. The Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly Articles 18 and 19, outlines the safeguards for civilian hospitals and medical establishments, ensuring they remain safe havens during armed conflicts. Article 19 emphasizes the importance of respecting and protecting the wounded and sick, mandating that medical units may not be attacked or hindered. Additionally, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court reinforces these protections; Article 8(2)(b)(ix) categorically criminalizes the intentional targeting of medical personnel and facilities. Together, these legal frameworks establish robust protections for those in medical need and the brave workers dedicated to their care amidst war's chaos.

The targeting of Hospitals, doctors, trauma surgeons, medical facilities, ambulances and ambulance centers, Civil Defense workers and has resulted in a catastrophic collapse of the Gaza healthcare system, exacerbated by blockades and military actions that have severely restricted access to essential medical supplies and facilities. As a result, the healthcare crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels.

The Evidence

Sarkha Project has meticulously gathered a comprehensive array of videos, images, reports, and firsthand testimonies pertaining to dire human rights violations occurring within Gaza. These include accounts of hospital sieges, raids, and bombings, as well as the abduction, torture, and killings of medical professionals, including doctors, paramedics, and first responders.

The evidence collected unequivocally demonstrates a troubling pattern: the Israeli military is systematically targeting Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. This not only compromises the delivery of essential medical services but also places countless civilian lives in jeopardy, particularly during times of acute need.

The implications of these assaults on healthcare extend far beyond immediate physical damages; they erode the very foundations of medical ethics and humanitarian assistance. The persistent targeting of medical personnel and facilities showcases a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, as well as a failure to uphold the principle of medical neutrality, which is essential for the protection of healthcare workers and the provision of care to the wounded and ill.

Collecting open source evidence on this widespread issue is an enormous timely task. So far we have collected evidence on the following incidents

• Ambulance Attacks - Completed

• Al Shifa Hospital Sieges & Bombings - Processing

• Nasser Hospital Siege - Processing

• Al Amal Hospital Siege - Processing

• Al Aqsa Hospital bombings - Processing

• Kamal Adwan Hospital Siege and Bombings - Processing

• Indonesian Hospital bombings - Processing

• Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing - Processing

• Al Quds hospital bombings - Processing

Sarkha Project is currently engaged in the meticulous processing of evidence pertaining to documented attacks on the healthcare system and medical workers in Gaza ; however, we recognize the urgency of your request. Accordingly, we invite you to submit an evidence request in advance. While we are unable to provide immediate access to the processed materials, we assure you that once the analysis is complete and the evidence is validated, we will promptly fulfill your request. This procedure underscores our commitment to ensuring that all disseminated information adheres to our rigorous standards of accuracy and integrity.

The images displayed in the gallery above are not owned by Sarkha Project and are used solely for educational and informational purposes related to the documentation of human rights violations. If you are the copyright holder of any image and wish to have it removed, please contact us directly, and we will promptly address your request. All efforts have been made to credit the respective owners, and we respect all copyright laws.