The Israeli army's intention to deliberately kill civilians and non-combatants and prevent aid and assistance to them, in violation of international law [EN/AR] – occupied Palestinian territory

Beirut – The Israeli army has provided no evidence to support its claim that fighters are transporting combat equipment in ambulances in Lebanon – a mere pretext for Israel's blatant violations of the Lebanese aid and ambulance sector.

Israeli attacks on civilian targets, including war crimes against health facilities protected by international humanitarian law, also constitute crimes against humanity as part of Israel's aggression against Lebanon through a systematic and widespread attack on Lebanese civilians.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, since Israeli attacks began on October 8, 2023 and through October 3, 2024, Israel has attacked 45 medical centers, 128 ambulances and fire engines. 97 paramedics died and 188 others were injured.

Israel also attacked 17 Islamic Health Authority centers and 62 vehicles in Lebanon, killing 68 medics and wounding 98.

In addition, 18 medics were killed and 62 injured when 57 Islamic Message Scout vehicles and 15 medical facilities were attacked.

Lebanon's rescue agency also lost seven paramedics when a medical facility and two of its cars were attacked. Three volunteers were injured when the Israeli army attacked three International Amel Association medical facilities and a Lebanese Red Cross vehicle. As for the Lebanese Civil Defense, nine medical centers and six vehicles were attacked. Four medics were killed and 25 others were injured in the attacks.

As part of related Israeli actions, the Lebanese Civil Defense received an Israeli threat on Thursday, October 3, 2024, instructing its members not to travel to the targeted areas, namely the southern suburb of Beirut, which has been closed since the attacks The most violent raids had expanded on September 23, 2024. The threat also said they would be targeted if they went near the suburban sites to help victims.

This came after civil defense centers across Lebanon were called on September 26, 2024, requesting the evacuation of threatened centers in order to incite panic and disrupt relief efforts.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, between October 8, 2023 and October 3, 2024, 1,974 people were killed in Lebanon, including 127 children, 261 women and 97 medics, and 9,384 were injured. Over ten hospitals were damaged by Israeli bombing. The latest attack occurred on Friday evening, October 4, 2024, at Bint Jbeil Hospital, and UNIFIL ambulance crews were not allowed to enter the hospital to rescue injured people.

The Israeli army's actions and its targeting of the relief and health sectors are a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which clearly states that medical personnel, both military and civilian, must always be respected and protected.

Pursuant to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and Article 85(5) of the First Additional Protocol of 1977, deliberate attacks on health and relief workers are considered war crimes.

Israel remains bound by the Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law, even though it has not ratified and does not consider itself bound by the First Additional Protocol or the Rome Statute. These legal obligations go hand in hand with Israel's humanitarian and moral obligation to respect and protect medics and relief workers transporting and evacuating the wounded from military theaters and to ensure freedom of passage for all medical operations.

The attacks in Lebanon demonstrate the Israeli army's intention to deliberately kill civilians and non-combatants and to prevent aid and assistance to them, disregarding international law and the urgent priority of always distinguishing between civilians and combatants.

The international community must take immediate action to force Israel to stop its crimes against aid workers in Lebanon and to ensure their protection. The international community must stop these illegal attacks, prevent further escalation in the region, impose effective sanctions against Israel and hold it accountable for its ongoing crimes against civilians and the defenseless.