A Reminder that Targeting a Hospital is a War Crime
Elise Baker is a senior staff lawyer at the Atlantic Council Strategic Litigation Project, where she leads efforts on accountability and support for victims and survivors of human rights violations in Syria. Previously, she documented the Assad regime’s systematic attacks on healthcare in Syria with Physicians for Human Rights. Britt Gronemeyer is an assistant director at the same project, supporting accountability for human rights abuses in Iran, Syria, Ukraine, and other countries.
The world’s current focus is rightly on establishing a ceasefire across Gaza, offering urgent relief to the enclave’s more than two million civilians. While mediators, politicians, and humanitarian workers prioritize a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian aid, lawyers and human rights advocates must intensify accountability efforts.
Israeli military operations in Gaza over the last two years have severely violated international law, with frequent reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Among the gravest violations are the hundreds of strikes on medical facilities in Gaza.
“Israeli military action in Gaza over the past two years has obliterated international law, with near-daily reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity, costing tens of thousands of lives.”
Key Violations in Gaza
- Destruction of medical facilities violating the laws of war
- Repeated attacks on healthcare infrastructure and personnel
- Significant civilian casualties from these violations
Role of Accountability
While humanitarian relief is critical, maintaining focus on legal accountability is essential to deter future violations and uphold international humanitarian law.
“Lawyers and human rights activists should be doubling down on accountability efforts.”
Author’s summary: Sustained attacks on hospitals in Gaza constitute serious war crimes, and while ceasefires are vital, unfaltering legal accountability is crucial to protect human rights and prevent future atrocities.