New report: Israel systematically attacked health care workers and hospitals in Lebanon too

From late September to late October 2024, the Israeli military carried out systematic attacks on medical infrastructure, ambulances, aid workers and hospitals in Lebanon. Attacks that clearly constitute war crimes under international law. That is according to a new report published by 11.11.11 together with its partner organization Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH). The report comes at a time when Israel is again firing rockets into Lebanon - despite a ceasefire.

In just one month, between September 23, 2024 and October 23, 2024, 11.11.11-partner CLDH at least thirty Israeli attacks on ambulances, hospitals and medical centers, medical personnel and UN aid workersAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), proportionally more health workers and patients have been killed in Lebanon than in Ukraine and Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, there have been at least 162 Israeli attacks on Lebanese health centers, killing 241 health workers and wounding 296, according to the United Nations.

Hospitals and medical centers

During the same period, at least 12 hospitals and medical centers affected by Israeli attacks. Among others:

• On October 4, Israel bombed a medical center in Kherbet Selem (southern Lebanon).
• On October 5, Israel attacked the Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, seriously injuring 9 aid workers.  
• On October 17, a health center in Habboush (South Lebanon) was directly attacked by an aerial bombardment.

Civil protection and humanitarian organizations  

Also dozens of firefighters, members of humanitarian and civil organizations and UN personnel were killed or injured, including:

• A staff member of the UN refugee agency UNHCR was killed in an airstrike in the Bekaa Valley on September 24.  
• 17 members of the Civil Defense killed by Israel in various locations on September 28, October 6, October 9, October 10 and October 16.  
• 10 firefighters were killed in a bombing in southern Lebanon. 

Under international humanitarian law, hospitals, ambulances and aid workers protected in a war. It is forbidden to attack them or to obstruct their work, unless there is clear evidence that they are being used by military actors. Israel has not yet presented any convincing evidence that the hospitals it attacked were being used by Hezbollah.  

However, health care providers and medical centers in Lebanon, just like in Gaza, targeted again and again. Those who save lives are themselves shot at or bombed. These attacks not only hurt people, they undermine the entire health system. They delay aid to the wounded, spread fear among medical workers, and deny citizens essential care.

The federal government promised in its coalition agreement to defend international law. 11.11.11 therefore calls on the government to take concrete action:  

• Fight against impunity: Our country should push for the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry for Lebanon within the UN Human Rights Council and actively encourage the Lebanese government to grant jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court to prosecute violations on Lebanese territory.  
• Setting up sanctions: At European level, Belgium must push for the imposition of individual sanctions against persons responsible for attacks against medical infrastructure in Lebanon, and for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.  
• Gun ban: The imposition of a formal arms embargo on all export and transit of weapons and military equipment to Israel.