Israel Justifies Gaza Hospital Raid, UN Rights Chief Questions Its Claims
Oman Horizon Bulletin
Israel defended its recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, claiming it was based on “irrefutable evidence” that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants were operating from the facility. However, the UN human rights chief criticized Israel’s justification as unsubstantiated, and the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the release of the hospital’s director, who was detained during the operation.
In a letter sent on Friday to the WHO and Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, Israel’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, explained that the raid was prompted by credible intelligence and that Israeli forces took “extraordinary measures to protect civilian life.”
Turk, addressing the UN Security Council, described Israel’s claims as “vague and broad” and said they were often contradicted by publicly available information. He urged for an independent investigation into all Israeli attacks on hospitals, healthcare infrastructure, and medical personnel, including the alleged misuse of such facilities.
Israel’s Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller stated that over 240 militants were arrested during the raid, including 15 involved in the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which led to the ongoing conflict. He also revealed that the hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was suspected of being a Hamas operative and was under investigation by Israeli security forces.
The WHO has expressed concern over Abu Safiya’s detention, with its representative Richard Peeperkorn stating that they have lost contact with him and calling for his immediate release.
The United States is gathering information about the hospital director, as stated by Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea.
Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour tearfully recalled the last words of a doctor killed in a hospital strike, who had written, “Whoever stays until the end, will tell the story. We did what we could. Remember us.”
For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook & subscribe to our YouTube Channel, which is updated daily.
