UN: Attacking health care facilities in Gaza violates international humanitarian law

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) – Any attack on health care facilities “will be a violation of international humanitarian law,” the UN warned on Friday amid reports about a possible Israeli strike on Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

When asked by Anadolu during a daily press briefing if the UN is aware of a possible attack on Gaza’s largest hospital and whether it is taking any precautions, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “We’ve said repeatedly that any attack on health care facilities will be a violation of international humanitarian law.”

However, Dujarric said that he cannot confirm Israel’s allegations that the hospital is used as “a terror operations base” by the Palestinian group Hamas, adding that it is “not a hospital that's run by the UN.”

The Israeli army on Friday released some audio and video materials, claiming that the Al-Shifa Hospital is being used by Hamas for "its terrorist activities." Hamas denied the claims and urged the UN to take action against potential strikes as the hospital is sheltering thousands of civilians.

The Shifa Medical Complex is a governmental medical complex that is considered the largest medical health institution within the Gaza Strip. The complex is located in the Central western part of Gaza City.

It includes three specialized hospitals; the Surgery Hospital, the Internal Medicine Hospital, and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.

The hospital is currently a refuge for thousands of civilians taking shelter from the Israeli fierce bombing on the Gaza Strip.

*Serife Cetin in New York contributed to the story