Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of Committing War Crimes in Gaza, Calls for Investigation

Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into the Israeli bombing of Gaza hospitals as war crimes, noting that Israel has not yet provided any evidence that Hamas is using hospitals for military purposes.

The organization said, "The Israeli army's repeated and illegal attacks on medical facilities, crews, and transports are destroying the health care system in the Gaza Strip and must be investigated as war crimes."

The organization's statement stressed, "Despite the Israeli army's allegations on November 5 of Hamas's use of hospitals, no evidence has been presented to justify depriving hospitals and ambulances of immunity under international humanitarian law."

It pointed out that "repeated Israeli attacks damaged hospitals and health care workers, in addition to previous damage resulting from the illegal blockade, destroyed the health care infrastructure in Gaza."

The organization accused Israel of killing hundreds during raids on hospitals and exposing many patients to grave danger because they were unable to receive appropriate medical care.