Healthcare as War’s Victim
Shanzay Waseem
Islamabad: Wars are often evaluated through the lens of military victories, territorial control, and political outcomes. However, the real human cost of conflict is reflected in civilian suffering and the destruction of essential institutions that support everyday life.
In the Israel-Palestine conflict, one of the most concerning aspects has been the devastating impact on healthcare infrastructure, medical professionals, and patients who rely on hospitals for protection and survival.
The origins of the Israel-Palestine conflict can be traced back to the early twentieth century, following the collapse of Ottoman rule, the establishment of British authority in Palestine, competing nationalist movements, the Balfour Declaration, and increasing Jewish migration. The establishment of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and shaped a conflict characterized by wars, occupation, forced displacement, and recurring violence.
Following the 1967 occupation of Palestinian territories and continued hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank, concerns over human rights and international humanitarian law have remained central to global discussions.
International legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions, recognize the rights of civilians to life, security, and protection from cruel and inhumane treatment during armed conflicts.
Healthcare facilities hold a unique status under international humanitarian law. Hospitals, doctors, nurses, and medical workers are granted protection because their primary purpose is to preserve human life, regardless of political affiliation or military involvement.
However, the destruction and disruption of Gaza’s healthcare system have raised significant concerns among humanitarian organizations, legal experts, and human rights advocates.
Reports from the WHO Health Cluster have documented numerous attacks on healthcare facilities since October 2023, resulting in deaths and injuries among patients and medical workers.
These incidents have transformed hospitals, which are meant to serve as places of healing and safety, into locations marked by fear, uncertainty, and destruction.
The collapse of healthcare infrastructure affects not only those directly injured in conflict but also entire communities by restricting access to emergency services, maternal healthcare, treatment for chronic illnesses, and essential medical support.
The Al-Shifa Medical Complex, once regarded as Gaza’s largest healthcare facility, has become a symbol of the severe challenges facing the territory’s medical system.
The hospital was subjected to repeated military operations, including incidents in November 2023 and March 2024. Humanitarian organizations reported extensive damage, shortages of electricity and medical supplies, and major disruptions to healthcare services.
During the November 2023 operation, hundreds of patients, including premature infants, dialysis patients, and critically ill individuals, were present inside the hospital. Reports indicated that some patients died after essential services collapsed, particularly due to power shortages affecting critical medical equipment.
Israel has defended its actions by stating that Hamas used healthcare facilities, including Al-Shifa Hospital, for military activities. Israeli officials have argued that such operations were necessary for national security and followed the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which resulted in Israeli civilian deaths and the capture of hostages.
Critics, however, argue that even when allegations of military activity exist, international humanitarian law requires precautionary measures to protect civilians and prevent unnecessary damage to medical facilities. This debate reflects a broader challenge in modern warfare: balancing security concerns with the obligation to protect civilian lives.
Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza represents another example of the healthcare crisis.
The hospital was surrounded and raided in December 2024, leaving patients, children, and displaced civilians facing severe shortages of food, water, and electricity, according to humanitarian reports. The World Health Organization reported deaths among patients during this period, including children.
Israeli authorities stated that military operations were conducted because the hospital was allegedly being used for military purposes. Hospital staff, however, rejected these claims and maintained that the facility was providing essential medical and humanitarian services.
These incidents highlight the challenges of protecting healthcare during armed conflicts. Regardless of conflicting claims, the impact on civilians remains severe when hospitals lose their ability to provide care.
Healthcare workers in Gaza have also faced significant dangers. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are protected under international humanitarian law because their responsibility is to provide medical assistance without discrimination.
Despite these protections, reports of injuries, deaths, and detentions involving healthcare workers have raised concerns about the safety of medical personnel. The detention of hospital administrators and senior doctors has further weakened an already fragile healthcare system by removing experienced professionals during a critical period.
The case of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, gained international attention following reports of his detention by Israeli forces in December 2024. Human rights advocates argued that the detention of medical professionals who document humanitarian conditions places additional pressure on healthcare workers operating in extremely difficult circumstances.
Israel maintains that its military campaign aims to dismantle Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, and protect Israeli citizens from security threats. Supporters of Israel’s position argue that states have the right to defend themselves against armed attacks.
However, international humanitarian law requires all military operations to distinguish between combatants and civilians and to avoid unnecessary harm to protected facilities such as hospitals.
The destruction of healthcare infrastructure raises a fundamental question: what happens when places built to protect human life become affected by war?
Hospitals are more than physical structures. They represent access to healthcare, dignity, and hope. When medical systems collapse, the consequences extend beyond immediate casualties. Children lose access to treatment, patients with chronic illnesses face life-threatening challenges, and communities lose essential services.
The crisis facing Gaza’s healthcare sector highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement of international humanitarian standards. Accountability mechanisms are necessary to ensure that alleged violations against civilians and medical institutions are properly investigated.
Protecting healthcare during conflict is not a political stance; it is a humanitarian responsibility. Regardless of the circumstances of war, hospitals and medical workers must remain protected spaces where saving lives takes precedence over military objectives.
The future of human rights depends not only on the existence of international laws but also on the global commitment to uphold those principles when they face their greatest challenges.
The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.
