A team of United Nations experts raised grave concerns on Friday, suggesting that the killing of three Palestinian men in a hospital in the occupied West Bank by Israeli commandos might amount to war crimes.
The incident occurred last month during an undercover operation at the Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin, a highly volatile city in the West Bank, conducted by the Israeli army, Shin Bet security service, and border police.
The U.N. experts pointed out that according to international humanitarian law, the act of killing a defenseless injured patient receiving treatment in a hospital constitutes a war crime. The patient, Basel Al-Ghazzawi, was reportedly undergoing treatment for injuries sustained from an Israeli airstrike.
The experts also condemned the Israeli forces’ use of disguise as medical personnel and civilians during the operation, labeling it as a violation of the prohibition against perfidy.
The statement issued by the U.N. experts called for a thorough investigation into the incident by Israeli authorities. However, the Israeli military did not immediately respond to the allegations made by the U.N. experts.
Security footage from the hospital showed a group of individuals, armed with assault rifles and dressed in civilian clothing and medical attire, including three who were disguised as women wearing headscarves.
The Israeli military has stated that one of the slain men was associated with Hamas, while the others were linked to the Jenin Brigade and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.
The escalation of violence in the West Bank since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region. The incident at the hospital further exacerbates tensions and underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Overall, the U.N. experts’ statement highlights the seriousness of the situation and emphasizes the importance of upholding international humanitarian law to protect civilians in conflict zones.
