Israel Accused of Deliberately Targeting Medical Facilities in South Lebanon
Healthcare workers and officials in south Lebanon have accused Israel of intentionally targeting medical facilities and ambulances as part of a systematic campaign to render the region uninhabitable. Since the conflict began on 2 March, Israeli strikes have hit at least 128 medical sites across south Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 40 healthcare workers and injuries to 107 others, according to the Lebanese ministry of health.
Systematic Use of Double-Tap Strikes
Medics report that Israel has employed double-tap strikes, a tactic where an initial bombing is followed by a pause to allow first responders to arrive before a second strike targets the area. This method has been used in at least five incidents, exacerbating the danger for medical personnel. Most attacks on healthcare workers occurred while they were in ambulances or at first aid centres, many of which have been destroyed.
Under international law, medical workers and hospitals are protected, and deliberately targeting them could constitute a war crime. Amnesty International has emphasized that regardless of political affiliation, medical workers are considered civilians, and attacking them is unlawful.
Investigation and Evidence
The Guardian conducted interviews with nine medical workers, including eyewitnesses to strikes on three separate medical facilities, and visited three destroyed centres in the Nabatieh and Tyre governorates. Inspections of two damaged ambulances revealed no evidence of military use at any of the sites.
The Israeli military has accused Hezbollah of using ambulances for military purposes, stating it would act in accordance with international law if such practices continued. However, no evidence has been provided to support these claims, which the Lebanese ministry of health condemned as an attempt to justify war crimes.
Impact on Healthcare Services
The vast majority of attacks have targeted the Islamic Health Association, a health service affiliated with Hezbollah that collaborates with the Lebanese ministry of health. Strikes have also affected the state civil defence service, the Amal movement's Islamic Scouts Association health service, a local healthcare charity, and the Lebanese Red Cross.
Medical workers assert that these attacks are designed to make life unsustainable in south Lebanon, part of a broader Israeli strategy targeting civilian infrastructure. During the previous Hezbollah-Israel conflict in 2024, nearly 230 medical workers were killed by Israel in Lebanon.
Personal Accounts and Precautions
Abdullah Nour el-Din, head of IHA emergency response south of the Litani River, described how double-tap strikes have occurred, such as in Seddiqin and Nabatieh, where paramedics were hit while rescuing civilians. Healthcare workers have also noted a pattern of strikes targeting facilities during Ramadan iftar gatherings at sundown.
In response to the threats, paramedics have implemented strict precautions. Medical teams have been reduced from three to two members, first responders avoid visiting family during work hours, and they sleep in ambulances parked apart to minimize casualties from a single strike. Ali Nasr al-Din, a civil defence centre head, expressed frustration, noting that precautions may be futile if the opposing side disregards ethical standards.
Humanitarian Crisis and Hospital Strain
As hospitals in south Lebanon face a surge in casualties, with over 1,000 killed and 2,584 wounded in 17 days of fighting, the pressure on medical staff is immense. Dr. Hassan Wazni, head of the Nabatieh governmental hospital, reported receiving more fatalities than wounded, with staff injured by airstrikes hitting the hospital perimeter.
Personal tragedies abound, such as paramedic Nidal Jafal discovering his parents' home destroyed in a strike, and Ali Tfyali losing his siblings while tending to neighbours' livestock. Despite the risks, healthcare workers like Ali Nasr al-Din feel compelled to continue their duties, stating, "This is our home."
The international community has yet to respond robustly to these allegations, raising concerns about accountability and the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.
