Beirut.– The Israeli army attacked the doors of a hospital in southern Lebanon without warning on Friday, killing seven paramedics and forcing the facility to close, the hospital director told The Associated Press a day after one of the attacks. deadliest attacks against health workers since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified.
Friday’s airstrikes, which ripped hospital doors off their hinges and shattered glass, were the latest in an offensive that the Lebanese Health Ministry says has killed dozens of health workers.
The director of Marjayoun hospital, Mounes Kalakesh, said that even before Friday’s attack, ambulance crews in the area were so reluctant to respond to emergencies that the center had not received any injuries for days.
“We have not been able to work. “There was fear and panic among the staff,” he said.
Kalakesh said the state hospital did not receive any warning from Israeli forces before the attack, although nearby towns have received evacuation warnings.
Israel has not commented specifically on the incident. Friday’s attack came hours before Israel’s Arabic-language military spokesman accused the southern Lebanon-based political-paramilitary group Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport weapons and fighters, and warned medical teams to stay away. away from the group. The spokesperson did not provide evidence.
Lebanese officials and hospital directors, including Kalakesh, deny the allegation. The Lebanese Health Minister has accused Israel of committing “a war crime” against medical and paramedical teams.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported Thursday that 40 paramedics, firefighters and health workers had been killed in Israeli attacks in three days, making care for the wounded even more difficult during intense fighting.
The ministry has reported that more than 100 health workers have died in the year since the war in Gaza began and since Israel and Hezbollah intensified exchanges of fire along the border.
The paramedics of the Islamic Health Committee are part of the Lebanese Ministry of Health’s coordinated response to crises in the country. Other civil defense teams have expressed concern for their safety, and some have stated that they were attacked despite being clearly identified and operating in areas where they were transporting wounded people or putting out fires.
Israeli strikes had previously hit the area near Marjayoun hospital, but never this close, Kalakesh said. He described how the paramedics died in their burning vehicles.
The hospital, with 45 beds, is closed.
“I am responsible for the staff here. I must protect it,” Kalakesh said, explaining the decision to evacuate. At the time of Friday’s attack, there were 30 employees at the hospital. His team was already exhausted after a year of work near the combat zone.
Other groups have expressed concern.
A Lebanese Red Cross convoy, escorted by Lebanese troops and coordinated with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, was attacked on Thursday. One Lebanese soldier was killed and four Red Cross volunteers were injured.
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