The UN human rights office published a report Tuesday that labeled Israeli claims that hospitals in Gaza are fronts for military operations as “vague.” The report focused primarily on attacks on hospitals in Gaza between the period from October 2023 to June 2024. Moreover, the report mentions that Israel’s allegations can at times be “contradicted by publicly available information.

The report also made observations about the state of Gaza’s healthcare system and the war crimes Israel has committed as they wage war on the Palestinian people. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk later added:

As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe in fact became a death trap. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times.

Currently, the healthcare system in Gaza has been virtually destroyed, a situation which was further exacerbated by the complete closure of the Rafah crossing, which eliminated any possibility of medical evacuation through that port as a last resort. The report further concludes that these mass attacks on hospitals by the IDF can amount to “collective punishment”, which is a war crime under international law.

Israel has been subject to past criticism by the UN for their treatment of the Palestinian people. Israel has been criticized for their disregard for international law and their legal responsibilities as an occupying power, along with their disregard for the rulings and warnings of the International Court of Justice. The World Health Organization has also condemned Israel for worsening the humanitarian crisis by continuing to attack hospitals.