The United Nations and France condemned Israel’s assaults on hospitals within the Gaza Strip, which have destroyed the healthcare system within the blockaded Palestinian enclave.
“France condemns the army operations concentrating on a number of hospitals in Gaza, notably Kamal Adwan Hospital, which is now out of service,” mentioned the French Foreign Ministry.
Calling on Israel to respect worldwide humanitarian regulation, the ministry mentioned: “We categorical our concern for the state of affairs of its director, in addition to the sufferers and medical workers.”
“France reminds Israel of its obligation to adjust to worldwide humanitarian regulation, which explicitly gives for the safety of hospital infrastructure,” it acknowledged.
Pointing to the dire humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, France urged all sides to work towards a direct truce.
“In the face of absolutely the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, the place the state of affairs for civilians has been unacceptable for too lengthy, France calls on the events to barter at once a direct and lasting ceasefire,” the assertion added.
France pressured that solely a cease-fire would “enable for the huge entry of humanitarian support by all entry factors to Gaza, the discharge of all hostages, and the safety of all civilians.”
The U.N. additionally denounced Israeli army operations concentrating on hospitals in Gaza.
“We’ve been very clear in the fact that we condemn any action that targets civilians and civilian infrastructure, and hospitals. We’ve called repeatedly for them to be respected as this is a safe space area where people go to seek medical assistance,” Florencia Soto Nino, the U.N. chief’s affiliate spokesperson, advised reporters throughout a news convention.
Asked about Israel’s detention of the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya in Gaza, Nino mentioned: “Anyone that is innocent civilian who is trying to help others should not be detained.”
“I think we have been talking about this for a long time there is no safe space in Gaza,” she mentioned, including that the U.N. is able to work with anybody who would help its work to make sure the security of civilians together with the director.
Citing the U.N’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Nino mentioned that “10 patients were evacuated from the (Kamal Adwan) hospital, four of whom were arrested by Israeli forces at the checkpoint leaving the area.”
“Seven patients, along with 15 caregivers and health workers, remain at the facility, which is severely damaged and has no ability now to provide medical care. The team reported also that the hospital has no water, electricity or sanitation,” she mentioned.
Stressing that Israel’s restrictions on support proceed, she acknowledged that such impediments “continue to paralyze the humanitarian operation at times when families urgently need food, shelter, clothing, especially as the winter is hitting them hard.”
“OCHA today warned that the very means of people’s survival are being dismantled. This includes an onslaught on healthcare, emergency services and humanitarian access, alongside relentless attacks that kill and maim civilians by the hour,” she added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) additionally referred to as on Israel to cease concentrating on hospitals in Gaza.
US ‘gathering info’ on detention of Gaza hospital director: State Department
The U.S. is “aware of reports and still gathering information” concerning the Israeli detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, mentioned the State Department on Monday.
The Palestinian Health Ministry introduced that Israeli forces arrested Abu Safiya in northern Gaza, and different staffers on Saturday, sooner or later after Israeli troops set hearth to the realm’s solely main healthcare facility. CNN has reported, citing just lately launched Palestinian prisoners, that Abu Safiya is being held on the Sde Teiman detention heart in Israel’s Negev desert close to the Gaza border, which has gained notoriety because of its excessive abuse of detainees.
“We are aware of reports and still gathering information,” a State Department spokesperson, who spoke on situation of anonymity, advised Anadolu Agency (AA) when requested about Abu Safiya’s detention.
“As we have said before, we do not want to see firefights in hospitals where innocent people and patients receiving medical care are caught in the crossfire, and we have had active consultations with the Israeli Defense Forces on this,” mentioned the spokesperson.
The spokesperson reiterated the U.S. name for all events within the battle to respect the protected standing of medical services and keep away from hurt to civilians receiving therapy, in addition to to humanitarian employees.
The U.S. stays “deeply concerned with the scale of civilian casualties in this conflict”, the spokesperson mentioned, including: “We have consistently urged Israel at the highest levels that they must do significantly more to ensure the protection of civilians, and that they must investigate credible allegations of violations whenever they arise.”
The spokesperson additionally accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals, colleges and different civilian services for “military purposes.”
“That puts innocent civilians in the crossfire. That creates an added burden for Israel, but it does not lessen Israel’s responsibility under international humanitarian law, to distinguish between terrorists and civilians, and to protect the lives of innocent people, and that is the overwhelming majority of the people in Gaza,” the spokesperson added.
Israel has not publicly commented on the detention of Abu Safiya or his reported switch to the Sde Teiman facility.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s arrest got here after an Israeli army offensive concentrating on the Kamal Adwan Hospital and its environment.
Israeli troops forcibly evacuated sufferers and medical personnel from the hospital on Friday, and a number of other others had been detained earlier than setting hearth to its giant sections, rendering it fully inoperable, based on a ministry assertion.
The assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital compelled the closure of the northern Gaza Strip’s final main medical facility.
Israel has killed greater than 45,400 individuals in Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border assault by Hamas, lowering the enclave to rubble.
Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for conflict crimes and crimes towards humanity in Gaza.
Source: www.dailysabah.com