Israeli occupation continues to commit systematic crimes against civilians and humanitarian and medical workers as part of its ongoing campaign of genocide against Palestinians since 8 October 2023.
According to the latest statistics issued by Gaza’s Government Media Office, the Israeli occupation forces kill an average of two medical personnel per day, and cause the amputation of limbs in 13 Palestinians every two days. Data also shows that over half of the victims are women and children.
In a statement, the Media Office reported that one journalist is killed every three days, one civil defence worker every five days, and over 230 Palestinians are injured daily. Furthermore, six people are left paralysed or lose their sight every two days, amid continued targeting of healthcare facilities and civil infrastructure in the besieged Strip.
The office noted that the Israeli occupation carries out more than one military attack daily on the healthcare system, including hospitals, ambulances, and relief centres, leading to the near-total collapse of the health sector, which now operates at less than 15% of its capacity.
These figures represent clear indicators of a systematic genocide, as defined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.
The repeated targeting of medical and humanitarian personnel demonstrates a deliberate attempt to dismantle the basic means of survival for the Palestinian people, an egregious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obligates occupying forces to protect medical staff and facilities during conflict.
Moreover, the policy of systematic limb amputations and the targeting of children, women, and the injured are part of a widespread pattern of conduct that amounts to crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which criminalises acts of torture, grievous harm, and inhumane treatment.
Additionally, the ongoing blockade imposed on Gaza for more than 17 years constitutes a form of collective punishment prohibited under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The blockade has cut off access to food, medicine, and fuel, triggering famine that has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including 154 children so far this year alone.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and consistent field reports, the international community continues to lack a firm and effective stance against these crimes, entrenching a culture of impunity that Israeli occupation has enjoyed for decades.
