The U.S. State Department has urged all parties in Gaza to observe international humanitarian laws, particularly following recent Israeli military actions resulting in the deaths of medics and a UN worker, thus highlighting the urgent need for accountability in the conflict.
US Calls for Compliance with Humanitarian Law Following Israeli Strikes on Medics in Gaza
US Calls for Compliance with Humanitarian Law Following Israeli Strikes on Medics in Gaza
The U.S. emphasizes adherence to international humanitarian law in Gaza amidst ongoing violence and civilian casualties.
In a pressing demand for adherence to international humanitarian law, the U.S. State Department has voiced concerns over the recent killing of 15 individuals—among them paramedics and a United Nations worker—by the Israeli military amid escalating tensions in Gaza. The remarks from state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce followed reports from the UN that these victims were discovered in a mass grave after their vehicles were targeted.
The United Nations’ humanitarian agency reported that on March 23, five ambulances, a fire truck, and a UN vehicle were struck in what has been termed an indiscriminate attack. Despite the Israeli military's assertion that they targeted suspicious vehicles believed to contain Hamas operatives, international law mandates special protections for medical personnel, a principle that Bruce reinforced by attributing the conditions in Gaza to Hamas' actions.
Jonathan Whittall, the head of the UN’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, condemned the violence, describing the establishment of the mass grave—marked by an emergency light from one of the struck ambulances—as a "horror." He stressed the critical nature of ensuring healthcare workers are not targeted during conflict.
Since the renewal of Israeli air and ground strikes on March 18—provoked by the stalled ceasefire negotiations with Hamas—over a thousand lives have been reported lost in Gaza, according to the health ministry controlled by Hamas. This latest round of violence emerged in the wake of a devastating cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, which saw approximately 1,200 Israelis killed and around 251 individuals taken hostage.
With over 50,350 fatalities recorded in Gaza since the conflict reignited, discussions surrounding the principles of war and the humanitarian responsibilities of involved parties continue to dominate the narrative. The call for accountability from both the U.S. and international humanitarian entities remains critical as the situation unfolds.
The United Nations’ humanitarian agency reported that on March 23, five ambulances, a fire truck, and a UN vehicle were struck in what has been termed an indiscriminate attack. Despite the Israeli military's assertion that they targeted suspicious vehicles believed to contain Hamas operatives, international law mandates special protections for medical personnel, a principle that Bruce reinforced by attributing the conditions in Gaza to Hamas' actions.
Jonathan Whittall, the head of the UN’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, condemned the violence, describing the establishment of the mass grave—marked by an emergency light from one of the struck ambulances—as a "horror." He stressed the critical nature of ensuring healthcare workers are not targeted during conflict.
Since the renewal of Israeli air and ground strikes on March 18—provoked by the stalled ceasefire negotiations with Hamas—over a thousand lives have been reported lost in Gaza, according to the health ministry controlled by Hamas. This latest round of violence emerged in the wake of a devastating cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, which saw approximately 1,200 Israelis killed and around 251 individuals taken hostage.
With over 50,350 fatalities recorded in Gaza since the conflict reignited, discussions surrounding the principles of war and the humanitarian responsibilities of involved parties continue to dominate the narrative. The call for accountability from both the U.S. and international humanitarian entities remains critical as the situation unfolds.
