The non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW) calls for an investigation into the Israeli attack on an ambulance outside Gaza’s largest hospital last week as a “possible war crime.”
“The Israeli military attack on a marked ambulance outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 3, 2023 was apparently illegal and should be investigated as a possible war crime,” says a note from HRW released on Tuesdayfair (7).
The group, which reports and investigates human rights violations around the world, further called for the investigation to be conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry into the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they targeted the ambulance because it was being used by Hamas. “An IDF aircraft struck an ambulance that was identified by the forces as being used by a Hamas terrorist cell in the vicinity of their position in the battle zone,” he said.
HRW, however, states that it found no evidence that the ambulance was used for military purposes after interviewing witnesses and checking images of the damaged ambulance and the surrounding area.
“If medical transport is misused, attacking forces must issue a warning to cease such misuse, and can only attack after such a warning goes unheeded,” HRW said.
“While the warning requirement must be interpreted strictly, there may be circumstances where a warning is not necessary due to the immediate need for attacking forces to defend themselves,” he added.
A CNN reached out to the Israeli military for comment but has not yet heard back. In previous statements, the Israeli military has stated that it is following international law and that it only strikes legitimate military targets in the Gaza Strip.
The attack on the ambulance, which was part of a medical convoy, killed at least 15 people and injured 60 others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas in Gaza.
Images from the scene showed at least a dozen bloodied people scattered on the ground near an ambulance.
Remember: Israel confirms attack on ambulance; Understand how an act can be judged
Source: CNN Brasil
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