The US is urging all entities in Gaza to adhere to humanitarian standards, as reports emerge of significant casualties, including medics and a UN worker.
US Demands Compliance with Humanitarian Law Amid Gaza Strikes
US Demands Compliance with Humanitarian Law Amid Gaza Strikes
State Department calls for all parties to uphold international law in the conflict.
The United States has stated that it expects "all parties on the ground" in Gaza to follow international humanitarian law, despite not confirming whether it is conducting its own assessment regarding the Israeli military’s recent actions that resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, including emergency responders and a United Nations representative. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce remarked, "Every single thing that happens in Gaza is happening because of Hamas," while addressing inquiries about the incident. The UN’s humanitarian agency indicated that on March 23, five ambulances, a fire truck, and a UN vehicle were struck "one by one," leading to the discovery and subsequent burial of 15 bodies, some of which still donned their paramedic uniforms.
The Israeli military defended its operations by stating that its troops targeted vehicles that were "advancing suspiciously" without headlights or emergency signals. While they acknowledged that a Hamas operative was among those killed, they did not comment on the reports surrounding the bodies found in a mass grave. International humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of civilians, particularly medical personnel, emphasizing the need for their protection in conflict zones.
Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN's humanitarian operation in Gaza, described the uncovered grave as being "marked" by an emergency light from the ambulance involved in the strike, calling the situation an "absolute horror." Whittall asserted that healthcare workers “should never be a target."
The backdrop to this incident is the Israeli military's intensified aerial and ground operations in Gaza, which resumed on March 18 after ceasefire talks with Hamas faltered. According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 1,000 lives have been claimed since the escalation began. This follows an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken by Hamas. The health ministry estimates that more than 50,350 individuals have died in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military defended its operations by stating that its troops targeted vehicles that were "advancing suspiciously" without headlights or emergency signals. While they acknowledged that a Hamas operative was among those killed, they did not comment on the reports surrounding the bodies found in a mass grave. International humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of civilians, particularly medical personnel, emphasizing the need for their protection in conflict zones.
Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN's humanitarian operation in Gaza, described the uncovered grave as being "marked" by an emergency light from the ambulance involved in the strike, calling the situation an "absolute horror." Whittall asserted that healthcare workers “should never be a target."
The backdrop to this incident is the Israeli military's intensified aerial and ground operations in Gaza, which resumed on March 18 after ceasefire talks with Hamas faltered. According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 1,000 lives have been claimed since the escalation began. This follows an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken by Hamas. The health ministry estimates that more than 50,350 individuals have died in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.
