With reference to the report issued by the NGO Monitor[1], entitled “In Their Own Words: Hamas Transforms Hospitals into Military Assets with NGO Approval,” this report, and other reports issued by the Israeli authorities since the events of October 7, 2023, illustrate the pretexts and justifications used by the Israeli authorities to target all international humanitarian organizations and prevent the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. Evidence of this is the targeting of international humanitarian organization workers, as well as their civilian facilities, as well as other civilian facilities, including schools, universities, places of worship such as mosques and churches, hospitals, and clinics.
To verify the authenticity of this report and the information contained therein, particularly some excerpts from instructions and guidelines, I contacted several individuals within the Gaza Strip who work in the health sector and other sectors, as well as informed sources from Palestinian resistance factions, to obtain more objective information and clarifications to understand the reality of what is happening on the ground.
Regarding the excerpts from some documents presented in this report, assuming they are authentic, I believe they do not conflict with the usual security procedures of any entity deemed to be in control of local administration, such as security concerns and the establishment of special instructions and conditions for hospitals, clinics, and other facilities to protect their personnel.
Following the confrontation between members of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which resulted in Hamas taking control of the entire Gaza Strip in June-July 2007, Hamas subsequently seized control of the PA’s apparatuses and began managing local affairs in the Strip, in cooperation with some factions that did not oppose the movement. With its control, the unjust blockade imposed on the Strip by the Israeli occupation forces began.
As is well known, a “combatant” becomes a civilian legal entity when injured, and is protected under international humanitarian law as a civilian. However, this treatment does not apply to Israeli occupation forces’ soldiers, who base their combat behavior on Torah-Talmudic principles. This means that, based on this view, their duty requires the killing of a wounded person in battle. In light of the genocide and brutal destruction that targeted people regardless of age, gender, or religion, as well as homes, trees, civilian residential and commercial complexes, schools, hospitals, clinics, infrastructure, and water and power plants, Hamas and other Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have resorted to building tunnels to preserve the capabilities of the armed resistance, including fighters, leaders, equipment, and weapons. They have also built medical clinics to provide the necessary first aid to those wounded in the fierce military battles. These clinics lack the medical capabilities to treat serious injuries and save the lives of wounded fighters. Therefore, they are keen to continue their treatment in hospitals that have these capabilities and medical staff capable of handling critical medical cases.
In order to preserve the lives of some seriously injured fighters, they are sent to hospitals operating in various areas.
This is not the first time that the Israeli authorities have planted documents inside hospital buildings to mislead international public opinion that they are targeting hospitals under the pretext that the Palestinian resistance is using them to plan its military operations. This has been proven false, as no member or leader has been killed inside these hospitals, but rather outside them during confrontations or while supervising military operations on the ground.
The Israeli authorities have reached the point of insolence, lying, and deception, aided by media and research institutions and others, in their campaigns targeting international humanitarian organizations operating inside the Gaza Strip, with the aim of preventing them from providing the necessary medical and relief assistance. They have chosen the largest of these humanitarian organizations, the most effective in the humanitarian scene inside the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli occupation’s deception and lies against international humanitarian organizations continue, including its blatant, pathetic attempts to prevent them from providing humanitarian aid and from documenting their crimes and providing testimonies related to their war of extermination. Due to its failure to control and control these facts, it established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which provides no assistance except under its supervision and approval. This follows security screenings, recruitment campaigns, and blackmailing of Gaza residents into accepting aid in exchange for information. It continues to target civilians seeking aid with killings, arrests, and other inhumane methods, including rape.
It has become clear and certain that “Israel” continues its campaigns of deception and lies, directing false accusations at humanitarian organizations through the use of hospitals to plan military resistance operations, on the one hand, and to politicize humanitarian work, on the other. The practices of the Israeli occupation forces have become disgraceful to all, and the lies of Israeli propaganda have been proven. This requires organizations concerned with international humanitarian law, as well as United Nations, humanitarian, and human rights organizations, to stand firmly against this encroachment on their work and activities. They must confront it in all forums and refute its narrative, which is built on lies and deception, by presenting the facts and documented testimonies, and responding to them.
[1] Look at the report: https://ngo-monitor.org/reports/hamas-misuse-hospitals-docs/
