Hospitals should not be battlegrounds: UN

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The hospitals should not be battlegrounds, said a UN spokesman on Wednesday following the Israeli military’s raid at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.

"Hospitals should not be battlegrounds. The parties should not be fighting in a hospital. Hospitals should not be battlegrounds anywhere in the world. Full stop," Stephane Dujarric said at his daily press briefing.

An Israeli tank shell on Wednesday targeted patient rooms at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, according to the Gaza's Health Ministry.

"We're very concerned about what we're seeing. We're only seeing the reports right now because we don't have any people on the ground. What is clear to us is that hospitals in no way can be used in any combat. They are protected under international humanitarian law," Dujarric said.

The UN is monitoring and seeing "very disturbing" images and reports coming out Al-Shifa Hospital, he added, calling on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.

- Accident of UNICEF executive director

Meanwhile, Dujarric announced that UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell was involved in a traffic accident in Egypt on her way to Gaza on Tuesday.

"The vehicle in which she was flipped on its side but she and along with the passengers are fine," he said, adding she visited Gaza through Rafah crossing despite her injuries.

"However, after the visit, she was examined by doctors again and she was told that her injuries required further care. As a result, she postponed the rest of her visit to the region, which also had included a stop in Israel where among other things she'd hoped to meet with the families of abducted children.

"Catherine Russell tells us that she does intend to return to the region issue as soon as she is medically cleared," he added.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 40th day, at least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.