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| ‘There needs to be justice,’ UN tells Israel after Gaza hospital bombing | ‘There needs to be justice,’ UN tells Israel after Gaza hospital bombing |
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| Human rights office demands that Israeli investigation into ‘double-tap’ attack that killed 20 people yields results | |
| Middle East crisis – live updates | Middle East crisis – live updates |
| The UN has demanded that Israel’s investigations into unlawful killings in Gaza, including its “double-tap” bombing of Nasser hospital which killed 20 people, among them five journalists, yield results and ensure accountability. | |
| “There needs to be justice,” Thameen Al-Kheetan, the spokesperson for the UN’s human rights office, told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva. He added that the number of journalists killed in Gaza raised many questions about the targeting of media workers. | “There needs to be justice,” Thameen Al-Kheetan, the spokesperson for the UN’s human rights office, told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva. He added that the number of journalists killed in Gaza raised many questions about the targeting of media workers. |
| On Monday, Israel twice struck Nasser hospital, the last functioning public hospital in southern Gaza. Witnesses said the second strike came just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded 15 minutes after the first bombing, killing first responders and media workers. | On Monday, Israel twice struck Nasser hospital, the last functioning public hospital in southern Gaza. Witnesses said the second strike came just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded 15 minutes after the first bombing, killing first responders and media workers. |
| The “double-tap” strike killed journalists working for Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera, as well as independent journalists. It drew global condemnation. All three publications issued statements mourning the journalists, and urged Israel to look into the killings. | |
| The office of the Israeli prime minister said it “deeply regrets the tragic mishap” that happened at the hospital and that the Israeli military was conducting an investigation. | The office of the Israeli prime minister said it “deeply regrets the tragic mishap” that happened at the hospital and that the Israeli military was conducting an investigation. |
| On Tuesday, the Israeli military released what it said was the initial results of its investigation. | On Tuesday, the Israeli military released what it said was the initial results of its investigation. |
| The military claimed that soldiers were aiming to destroy a camera in the Nasser hospital area used by Hamas to surveil the Israeli army. It further claimed that six of those killed in the strike were “terrorists”. | The military claimed that soldiers were aiming to destroy a camera in the Nasser hospital area used by Hamas to surveil the Israeli army. It further claimed that six of those killed in the strike were “terrorists”. |
| The statement, however, failed to address basic questions, primarily why Israel conducted a double-tap strike on medics and journalists and if anyone would be held accountable for the killing of civilians. | The statement, however, failed to address basic questions, primarily why Israel conducted a double-tap strike on medics and journalists and if anyone would be held accountable for the killing of civilians. |
| The UN spokesperson urged Israel to ensure the outcome of its investigation led to accountability, referring to recent Israeli military investigations that were closed without resolution. | The UN spokesperson urged Israel to ensure the outcome of its investigation led to accountability, referring to recent Israeli military investigations that were closed without resolution. |
| “The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations in such killings … We haven’t seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations and we call for accountability and justice,” said Kheetan. | “The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations in such killings … We haven’t seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations and we call for accountability and justice,” said Kheetan. |
| A report published by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) this month showed that 88% of Israel’s investigations into war crime allegations in Gaza were shut down or left unresolved. Among the unresolved inquiries are investigations into the killing of at least 112 Palestinians waiting for flour in Gaza City in February 2024 and an airstrike that killed 45 Palestinians in a tent encampment in southern Gaza in May 2024. | A report published by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) this month showed that 88% of Israel’s investigations into war crime allegations in Gaza were shut down or left unresolved. Among the unresolved inquiries are investigations into the killing of at least 112 Palestinians waiting for flour in Gaza City in February 2024 and an airstrike that killed 45 Palestinians in a tent encampment in southern Gaza in May 2024. |
| Researchers at AOAV said the statistics suggested that Israel was trying to create a “pattern of impunity” in the overwhelming majority of cases where severe wrongdoing by Israeli soldiers was alleged. | Researchers at AOAV said the statistics suggested that Israel was trying to create a “pattern of impunity” in the overwhelming majority of cases where severe wrongdoing by Israeli soldiers was alleged. |
| The Israeli military maintains that it has robust internal processes for when there is a suspicion of a violation of the law. | The Israeli military maintains that it has robust internal processes for when there is a suspicion of a violation of the law. |
| Israel has frequently conducted strikes on hospitals throughout the 22-month war in Gaza, with the World Health Organization reporting in April that 33 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals had been damaged. Israel has in the past claimed that Hamas is embedded within Gaza’s medical infrastructure, without presenting credible evidence for its claims. | Israel has frequently conducted strikes on hospitals throughout the 22-month war in Gaza, with the World Health Organization reporting in April that 33 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals had been damaged. Israel has in the past claimed that Hamas is embedded within Gaza’s medical infrastructure, without presenting credible evidence for its claims. |
| Israel has also regularly killed journalists in Gaza, now the deadliest place in the world to be a journalist. Israel has banned international media from entering Gaza, leaving Palestinian journalists as the only source of news on the territory. | Israel has also regularly killed journalists in Gaza, now the deadliest place in the world to be a journalist. Israel has banned international media from entering Gaza, leaving Palestinian journalists as the only source of news on the territory. |
| According to the UN spokesperson, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza over the last 22 months. | According to the UN spokesperson, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza over the last 22 months. |
| It is the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded, killing more media workers than both world wars, the Vietnam war, the Yugoslavia wars and the US war in Afghanistan combined. | It is the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded, killing more media workers than both world wars, the Vietnam war, the Yugoslavia wars and the US war in Afghanistan combined. |
| Israel’s double bombing of the hospital on Monday provoked outrage and added to the pressure on Israel from rights groups and foreign ministries worldwide. | |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, called the strikes “intolerable”, in a statement on Monday. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, called the strikes “intolerable”, in a statement on Monday. |
| “This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict,” said Macron. | “This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict,” said Macron. |
| On Tuesday, 209 former EU ambassadors and senior diplomatic staff published a public letter calling for urgent action over Israel’s war in Gaza and unlawful conduct in the occupied West Bank. They called on EU member states to take unilateral action “in pursuit of protecting and enforcing international law”. | On Tuesday, 209 former EU ambassadors and senior diplomatic staff published a public letter calling for urgent action over Israel’s war in Gaza and unlawful conduct in the occupied West Bank. They called on EU member states to take unilateral action “in pursuit of protecting and enforcing international law”. |
| Recommended actions included suspending arms export licences to Israel, halting funding of projects with Israeli organisations complicit in illegal actions and prosecuting indicted Israeli and Palestinian war criminals if they enter their territories. | Recommended actions included suspending arms export licences to Israel, halting funding of projects with Israeli organisations complicit in illegal actions and prosecuting indicted Israeli and Palestinian war criminals if they enter their territories. |
| Despite international and domestic pressure for a ceasefire, Israel is pushing ahead with its plans to take over and occupy Gaza City, a military campaign it expects could take up to five months. | Despite international and domestic pressure for a ceasefire, Israel is pushing ahead with its plans to take over and occupy Gaza City, a military campaign it expects could take up to five months. |
| At least 75 people were killed in the last 24 hours, many of them by Israeli strikes, the Gaza health ministry reported. Thousands of residents have already fled Gaza City as Israeli bombardment has intensified. | At least 75 people were killed in the last 24 hours, many of them by Israeli strikes, the Gaza health ministry reported. Thousands of residents have already fled Gaza City as Israeli bombardment has intensified. |
| Humanitarians have warned that continuing with the Gaza City campaign could have disastrous consequences for the wellbeing of the around a million residents there, already in the throes of famine. | Humanitarians have warned that continuing with the Gaza City campaign could have disastrous consequences for the wellbeing of the around a million residents there, already in the throes of famine. |
| The Israel-based group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) wrote to the Israeli government warning that orders to evacuate hospitals in Gaza City prior to the offensive would be a “death sentence” for many patients. | The Israel-based group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) wrote to the Israeli government warning that orders to evacuate hospitals in Gaza City prior to the offensive would be a “death sentence” for many patients. |
| “Hospital capacity across the Gaza Strip is already at maximum. This makes the safe transfer of patients from Gaza City hospitals to southern medical centres impossible,” PHR said in a letter sent on Monday to Cogat, the Israeli authority responsible for civilian affairs in Gaza. | “Hospital capacity across the Gaza Strip is already at maximum. This makes the safe transfer of patients from Gaza City hospitals to southern medical centres impossible,” PHR said in a letter sent on Monday to Cogat, the Israeli authority responsible for civilian affairs in Gaza. |
| Hamas has delivered its latest ceasefire proposal to mediators, but Israel has yet to respond. Israeli media reported that the Israeli government was unlikely to accept the ceasefire proposal, seeking instead a comprehensive deal that would see hostages returned and Hamas exiled from the strip. | Hamas has delivered its latest ceasefire proposal to mediators, but Israel has yet to respond. Israeli media reported that the Israeli government was unlikely to accept the ceasefire proposal, seeking instead a comprehensive deal that would see hostages returned and Hamas exiled from the strip. |
| Protesters gathered across Israel on Tuesday holding up pictures of hostages and demanding an end to the war. Demonstrators said that the continued fighting put the lives of the remaining hostages held in Gaza in danger. | Protesters gathered across Israel on Tuesday holding up pictures of hostages and demanding an end to the war. Demonstrators said that the continued fighting put the lives of the remaining hostages held in Gaza in danger. |
| As protests continued, the Israeli military conducted a rare wide-scale raid in Ramallah, one of the largest cities in the occupied West Bank. Israeli vehicles stopped traffic at a busy intersection downtown, where they clashed with groups of youths who attempted to throw rocks at vehicles. | As protests continued, the Israeli military conducted a rare wide-scale raid in Ramallah, one of the largest cities in the occupied West Bank. Israeli vehicles stopped traffic at a busy intersection downtown, where they clashed with groups of youths who attempted to throw rocks at vehicles. |
| There were 58 injuries from the raid, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, including injuries from teargas inhalation and live bullets. The Israeli military confirmed the raid in Ramallah but did not provide a reason for the operation, though the Palestinian news agency said soldiers arrested three people from a currency exchange shop. | There were 58 injuries from the raid, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, including injuries from teargas inhalation and live bullets. The Israeli military confirmed the raid in Ramallah but did not provide a reason for the operation, though the Palestinian news agency said soldiers arrested three people from a currency exchange shop. |
| More than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza – more than half of whom are civilians according to the Gaza health ministry – during Israel’s war over the last 22 months. Israel launched the war after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. | More than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza – more than half of whom are civilians according to the Gaza health ministry – during Israel’s war over the last 22 months. Israel launched the war after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. |