Amnesty International calls for war crimes probe into Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s health sector
Beirut, Lebanon: Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Israel’s attacks on ambulances, paramedics, and health facilities during its recent conflict with Hezbollah, urging that these actions be examined as potential war crimes.
The human rights organisation stated that Israel’s military had repeatedly targeted medical institutions and personnel, which are protected under international law. “The Israeli military’s repeated unlawful attacks during the war in Lebanon on health facilities, ambulances, and health workers must be investigated as war crimes,” Amnesty said.
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah lasted for over a year, with two months of full-scale conflict that saw Israeli ground forces deployed. The hostilities effectively ended with a truce on 27 November, as reported by AFP.
During the conflict, the Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah was using ambulances operated by the Islamic Health Committee to transport fighters and weapons. However, Hezbollah denied these claims.
Amnesty International investigated four Israeli strikes on medical vehicles and facilities in Beirut and southern Lebanon between 3 and 9 October last year. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 19 medical personnel, injuries to 11 others, and the destruction of multiple ambulances and two medical facilities. The organisation stated it found no evidence that these facilities or vehicles were being used for military purposes at the time.
Lebanon’s then-health minister, Firass Abiad, reported in December that Israeli strikes had killed 16 people in 67 attacks on hospitals, including 40 direct strikes. He also noted 238 attacks on emergency response organisations, resulting in 206 deaths, and the targeting of 256 emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances.
Amnesty urged the Lebanese government to grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed on Lebanese territory and ensure victims’ right to legal recourse.
The rights group said it had sent a letter detailing its findings to the Israeli military in November but had not received a response. “The Israeli military has not provided sufficient justifications or specific evidence of military targets being present at the strike locations,” Amnesty stated, adding that the repeated attacks had further weakened Lebanon’s already fragile healthcare system.
According to Lebanese authorities, the conflict resulted in over 4,000 deaths and caused widespread devastation in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs. The reconstruction costs are estimated to exceed $10 billion.
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Saif Ali Khan stabbing case: Over 1,000-page chargesheet filed against Bangladeshi accused Shariful
Mumbai: In connection with the stabbing of actor Saif Ali Khan, the Bandra police have filed a detailed chargesheet running over 1,000 pages against accused Shariful Islam, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national. The chargesheet was submitted to the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bandra, on April 8.
It includes key evidence such as facial recognition results, fingerprint analysis, an identification parade report, and forensic lab findings. Pieces of a knife recovered from the scene were also confirmed to match.
The incident occurred on January 16, around 2:00 AM, when an unidentified intruder allegedly entered Saif Ali Khan's residence on the 11th and 12th floors of Satguru Sharan in Bandra West. The intruder reportedly entered the bathroom attached to the room of Saif's four-year-old son, Jahangir (Jeh), with an intent to steal.
Jeh’s nanny was attacked, prompting Saif to intervene. In the struggle, the accused allegedly stabbed the actor six times in the neck before fleeing the premises. Saif was admitted to Lilavati Hospital for treatment.
Shariful Islam was arrested on January 19. Investigations revealed that he had no knowledge of the house belonging to a celebrity and that his motive was theft.
