In a damning report, the United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of deliberately destroying Gaza’s healthcare system during its relentless military assault on the Palestinian territory. The report, led by Navi Pillay, asserts that Israeli forces have targeted hospitals, medical personnel, and emergency responders as part of a systematic effort to dismantle essential healthcare services in Gaza. These actions, according to the UN, constitute war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination.
For Palestinians in Gaza, who have long suffered under the weight of an oppressive blockade, these attacks have only deepened their despair. Since the beginning of Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in October 2023, the already fragile healthcare system has been obliterated, leaving civilians—especially children—without access to critical medical care.
One heartbreaking example cited in the report is the story of five-year-old Hind Rajab, whose family car was hit by Israeli shelling as they tried to flee the violence. Hind managed to call the Palestinian Red Crescent for help, but the ambulance attempting to reach her was effectively “prevented access,” by Israeli forces, resulting in the death of the young girl and her family. The medical crew could only reach the car 12 days later. This senseless loss of life underscores the cruelty of Israel’s policies in Gaza.
The UN’s findings detail how Israeli security forces have deliberately killed, detained, and tortured medical personnel, restricting their ability to provide life-saving care. The destruction of hospitals and clinics in Gaza has left thousands of Palestinians—many of them women, children, and the elderly—without access to treatment. These actions are not isolated incidents; they are part of what the UN calls a “concerted policy” to eradicate Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, effectively creating conditions that could destroy generations of Palestinian children and their families.
Beyond the attacks on healthcare, the report also highlights Israel’s systematic abuse of Palestinian detainees, including children. The UN accuses Israeli forces of subjecting detainees to torture, rape, and sexual violence, often under direct orders from Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Such brutal treatment violates every basic principle of human rights and adds to the growing list of Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians.
While Israel has long dismissed UN reports as biased, the evidence presented in this latest inquiry is undeniable. The world can no longer ignore the fact that Israel’s actions in Gaza are not just about military strategy—they are about deliberately inflicting suffering on an entire population. The destruction of hospitals, the torture of detainees, and the killings of medical personnel point to a clear intent to dismantle the fabric of Palestinian society.
The UN report will be presented to the General Assembly on October 30, 2024. It is now up to the global community to act.
