A strike outside a health clinic in Gaza killed at least 15 people, including young children, as they waited for medical care. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed it was targeting an unnamed Hamas member who had crossed into Israel during October’s attacks.
However, humanitarian and human rights experts say the attack highlights long-standing concerns about Israel’s approach to proportionality and transparency in its military assault on Gaza since 2022. According to international humanitarian law, launching an attack that could cause civilian loss of life or injury is prohibited if it’s disproportionate to the direct military advantage anticipated.
Human Rights Watch’s Kenneth Roth stated that the IDF has tolerated up to 20 civilians dead for targeting a single Hamas fighter. He also emphasized that even attacks on military targets can be war crimes if the civilian cost is disproportionate.
The IDF has been criticized for releasing limited information about its strikes, making it difficult to determine whether they comply with rules of proportionality. The agency has yet to conclude its investigation into the July 10 attack or publicly identify the target or outline steps taken to avoid impacting civilians.
Experts point to a lack of transparency and accountability as key concerns. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, said that “controversy surrounds IDF operations from how they choose targets and the extent to which they are prepared to accept civilian casualties.”
The Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza has been marked by mounting accusations of war crimes and genocide, with some former Israeli officials expressing concerns about their country’s actions. A proposed plan to build a “humanitarian city” over ruins of Rafah would be considered ethnic cleansing, according to Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 57,000 people and widespread destruction. The IDF and government officials have accused Hamas of exploiting civilian sites for its operations, but health officials and Hamas deny this.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/gaza-children-dying-israel-strikes-palestine-offensive-idf-rcna218202