Al-Shifa ambulance airstrike

Al-Shifa ambulance airstrike
Part of the siege of Gaza City and the Israel–Hamas war
Al-Shifa is located in the Gaza Strip
Al-Shifa
Al-Shifa
Location within the Gaza Strip
LocationAl-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City, Gaza Strip
Coordinates31°31′27″N 34°26′39″E / 31.52417°N 34.44417°E / 31.52417; 34.44417
Date3 November 2023
TargetAmbulances
Attack type
Airstrike
Deaths15 civilians
Injured60 civilians
Perpetrator Israeli Air Force

On 3 November 2023, amid the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip and siege of Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital carrying critically injured patients.[1] The strike killed 15 people and wounded 60.[1] The Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was part of the convoy, said that all 15 casualties were civilians.[2][3] The airstrike also caused damage to the hospital itself.[4]

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that it carried out the airstrike,[5] and said that Hamas militants were killed in the attack[2][6][7] and that one of the ambulances was being used to transport Hamas personnel and weaponry.[8] The Gaza Health Ministry denied any military use of the ambulances.[9] Human Rights Watch said it "did not find evidence that the ambulance was being used for military purposes". The Washington Post analyzed the videos and found no evidence of weapons or individuals in military clothing.[6] Human Rights Watch further added that under IHL ambulances must not be attacked, even if they transport wounded combatants, and said the attack could be a war crime.[10][11]

The attack was condemned by the World Health Organization.[12]

  1. ^ a b "Several killed in Israeli attack on ambulance convoy: Gaza health ministry". Al Jazeera. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Palestinian Red Crescent says 15 killed in strike on ambulance convoy". BBC News. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Palestinian Red Crescent condemns Israeli strike on Gaza ambulance convoy". L'Orient Today. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ Administrator. "Attacks on health care in Gaza Strip unacceptable, says WHO". World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  5. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (3 November 2023). "IDF says it carried out airstrike on ambulance being used by Hamas cell in northern Gaza". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Morris, Loveday; Dadouch, Sarah; Kelly, Meg; Hill, Evan (3 November 2023). "Israel launches deadly strike on ambulance outside hospital in Gaza". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference ashge was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNNAdmits was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference imcit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference hrw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference wcsbi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).