Israel and Palestine: Health Care Under Fire

A United Nations-backed panel has come out with some strong words against Israel. They say that Israel is wrecking Gaza's health care system with deliberate attacks. Both sides, Israel and the Palestinians, have been accused of torturing people. The panel was set up by the U. N. Human Rights Council to look into rights violations in Israel and the areas it controls. Israel has been raiding hospitals in Gaza, saying militants are hiding there. Palestinian medical officials deny this and say Israel is putting civilians in danger. Hospitals can lose their protection if used for military purposes. The report says Israel is targeting medical staff and vehicles, and limiting permits for medical evacuations. These actions are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity. The panel also found that thousands of people, including children, have been abused in detention. Israel's security forces are accused of sexual and physical violence. The panel says this abuse is institutionalized by Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir. He wants to make prison conditions harsh to deter attacks. Nine Israeli soldiers were arrested in July over allegations of sexual abuse in a secret facility. Their arrest sparked protests by hard-liners. The panel also says Palestinian militants are guilty of war crimes for abusing hostages. The war between Israel and Hamas has been brutal. It started in October 2023 and has killed thousands of people, mostly civilians. Gaza's health system is in ruins, and many people have been displaced. The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are looking into these events.