Twenty-three people, including 12 medical personnel (doctors, paramedics, and nurses), have been killed since dawn on Saturday in separate Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese territory, part of an escalating offensive that began on March 2.
In the latest airstrikes, Israeli forces targeted an apartment in the Hara neighborhood of Sidon, southern Lebanon, killing four people. They also struck a house in the town of Taybeh, though no casualties were reported as of Saturday morning.
The most devastating attack targeted a primary healthcare center in the town of Burj Qalawiya in the Bint Jbeil district, killing 12 medical personnel. This constitutes a grave violation under international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting medical personnel during armed conflicts. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that search operations for missing persons under the rubble are ongoing.
In the Nabatieh governorate, seven people were killed and others wounded in an airstrike on the Sisters’ Quarter, highlighting the extent of the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
The Israeli occupation continues its aggression against Lebanon, which, as of Friday evening, had resulted in the deaths of more than 773 people, including 103 children, and injuries to 1,933 others, including 326 children. This constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits deliberate attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure.
Targeting medical personnel is a direct violation of international agreements, including the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on medical personnel, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. These attacks also constitute war crimes, particularly given the civilian casualties and widespread destruction in populated areas.
This ongoing aggression raises concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, especially given the damage to healthcare services and the loss of life among doctors and paramedics, who represent the first line of defense in saving civilians. This necessitates immediate action from the international community to stop these violations and protect civilians and vital infrastructure in accordance with international law.
