UN Special Rapporteur: Israel Must Stop Destroying Health System in Palestine

The convoy of ambulances in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. (Twitter/@WHO)

JAKARTA - UN Special Rapporteur warns, Israel must stop destroying the Palestinian health system, provide protection for healthcare workers.

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Tlaleng Mofokeng called for protection for health care workers in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"I am shocked by Israel's blatant disregard for the right to health in Gaza and other occupied territories," Tlaleng Mofokeng said, following the killing of Dr. Ziad Al-Dalo from Gaza while in Israeli custody, reported by WAFA on September 25.

He explained that Al-Dalo was an internal medicine doctor at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. He was detained along with other health care workers while on duty at the hospital on March 18, 2024, during a raid by Israeli forces.

Al-Dalo died on March 21 while in custody, one of more than 885 health care workers killed in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7, including nurses, paramedics, doctors and other medical personnel.

Many more have been injured, while the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 1,043 attacks on health centers in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"Israel must stop destroying and obstructing the functioning of the already limited health system in Palestine, protecting health care workers," Mofokeng said.

"The practice of medicine is never a crime during conflict – but the deliberate killing of health care workers is," he said.

"Israel must stop," he said.

He stressed that targeting health care workers and health facilities violates the basic right of individuals to access essential health care services, which is crucial in times of conflict, and may constitute a war crime.

According to the WHO, at least 128 health care workers remain in detention after being arbitrarily arrested while carrying out their duties.

Mofokeng called for the immediate release of all health care workers arbitrarily detained in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, for a prompt, independent and impartial investigation to be conducted, and for those who unlawfully detained and killed them to be held accountable.

"The inability of a people to fully exercise their right to self-determination will affect the enjoyment of all their fundamental rights, including the right to health," he explained.

The UN rapporteur also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation and an end to the genocide.