GENEVA: A United Nations expert on Monday condemned Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza, stating that it has resulted in the “complete obliteration” of the Palestinian territory’s health system and constitutes a “war on the right to health.”
Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, accused Israel of disregarding human rights and treating them as an “a la carte menu.” Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Mofokeng emphasized the devastating impact of Israel’s military operations on Gaza’s medical infrastructure, stating that it was irreparably damaged just days into the conflict since October 7.
She highlighted the dire conditions under which healthcare providers in Gaza have been operating, facing severe shortages of medical supplies amid continuous Israeli bombardment. Mofokeng described the situation as a systematic assault on the right to health, resulting in the decimation of Gaza’s health system at every level.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s relentless bombardment has killed more than 34,151 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have been repeatedly and intentionally targeted, with Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, reduced to ashes, leaving behind an “empty shell” and many casualties.
The discovery of 50 bodies buried in the courtyard of the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza’s Khan Younis further underscores the devastation inflicted upon Gaza’s healthcare facilities. Mofokeng condemned Israel’s actions, stating that they amount to “killing and causing irreparable harm” to Palestinian civilians.
Despite raising concerns with Israeli authorities, Mofokeng noted receiving no response and being denied access to the Palestinian territory and Israel. She accused Israel of knowingly imposing famine, malnutrition, and dehydration on Gaza’s population, labeling its actions as “genocide.”
The UN expert emphasized that the current situation in Gaza is incompatible with the right to health. She urged the international community to take immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis and hold perpetrators accountable for violations of international law.
