Lebanon appeals for international pressure to halt Israeli attacks on medics, hospitals

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Lebanese authorities called on Sunday for piling pressure on Israel to halt its attacks against the health sector in Lebanon amid air and ground attacks on the country.

In a statement, the Lebanese Order of Nurses (ONS) accused Israel of deliberately targeting hospitals, doctors, nurses, and paramedics “in a blatant defiance of international laws and conventions.”

“The international community, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the International Council of Nurses must intervene quickly to pressure Israel to neutralize the health sector from the devastating war,” it added.

"It is no longer possible to remain in hot areas to rescue the wounded, especially since the lives of nurses are in danger,” warned, the ONS, the only official body representing the nursing work in Lebanon.

Israel has launched massive airstrikes on Lebanon against what it calls Hezbollah targets, killing more than 1,180 victims since Sept. 23, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

At least 97 medical and emergency personnel were killed and more than 10 hospitals were damaged in the attacks.

The aerial campaign was an escalation in a yearlong conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 41,800 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

At least 2,036 people have since been killed, over 9,600 injured, and 1.2 million others displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi