Israeli military attacks on hospitals on the Gaza Strip have risen to the highest level ever this year, putting the healthcare system already weakened by the 19-month war. NBC News analyzed 27 videos and images from the past two months taken on the ground by civilians and our own journalists to compile photos of the full extent of the destruction of the health system that was caught in the war.
Footage from surveillance cameras allowed people to blow people into the air as they crossed the entrance to the European hospital in Karnnis before the missile collision, scattered in panic. Another video posted on social media and verified by NBC News found repeated attacks, including May 22 and May 24, following a violent explosion at a medical warehouse near Al Auda Hospital in northern Gaza.
“Almost all hospitals in Gaza are currently being destroyed or destroyed, half of which are no longer in operation,” a spokesman for the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Cooperation, or OCHA, told NBC News. During the war, hospitals in Gaza repeatedly served back services, but only repeatedly struck and besieged.
Although hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, Israel claims Hamas is open for attack using hospitals and medical centres for military operations. Hamas denied doing so. Humanitarian groups, including the United Nations, say Israel has not provided enough information to demonstrate many of its claims and are seeking an independent investigation into alleged attacks by Israel and misuse of Hamas facilities.
But earlier this week, Israeli forces gave a small group of reporters a tour of the tunnels discovered under a European hospital.
“We can’t stress this enough. Hospitals should never be militarized or targeted. If so, it could constitute a war crime,” Laerke said.
Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, none of them are fully functional. According to World Health Organization data on Monday, 17 provide partial services, while 19 is not working at all. The wider health system, including ambulances, outdoor hospitals and clinics, has been attacked more than 700 times since the start of the war, killing at least 900 people and injuring more than 1,000 people. (According to the Ministry of Health, the total number of deaths in Gaza is over 55,000.)
After the ceasefire was called in January, Israel’s military attacks on Gaza’s health system have been mitigated. The truce collapsed in March, with WHO data showing an increase in attacks in recent weeks. The organization tallied five attacks on Gaza’s health system in April, but after the first three weeks of May, the number of attacks quadrupled to 21, including near dialysis centres at Indonesian hospitals on June 1, and at least three attacks, including June 4 and Al-Ahli hosp’s Al-ahli hospitals for has for nit in es aa email has aa a-ahli has aa a-ahli has in for has in for amall has aa amallis aa ahli whas. I said on Monday.
The oldest attack recorded by NBC News over that two-month period was April 2nd when Israeli airstrikes collided with the UNRWA clinic in Jabaria, north of Gaza city. The video shot on the ground by NBC News recorded a confusing aftermath. Walls crushed by tile rubs, burnt mattresses and furniture were blown up into pieces. The child’s small, covered body was loaded into the donkey’s cart and was transported to the morgue.
In another case, the Israeli Defense Forces attacked two hospitals on May 13th, the same day by Khan Eunice. Videos validated by NBC News show several plumes of smoke rising from the European hospital site. Palestinian health officials said at least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured. The WHO said the facility was forced to suspend services.
Also, that day was a naser medical complex. A video posted by the UN showed scattered pieces, twisted hospital beds and damaged equipment. According to the United Nations, it was the fourth time Nasser fought during the war.
In a statement in response to these attacks, the IDF said its forces targeted the “Hamas Underground Terrorist Infrastructure Site” located under the commander and control centre at Nasser Hospital and the European Hospital.
The IDF provided evidence that it said it was the Hamas tunnel under the European hospital. However, it did not provide evidence of Nasser’s Command and Control Centre, or, in the following cases, widely said, “The Hamas Terrorist Organization continues to use hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist activities.” NBC News cannot independently validate statements in an IDF.
