A Reminder that Targeting a Hospital is a War Crime
Elise Baker, a senior staff lawyer at the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project, leads initiatives promoting accountability and justice for victims of human rights abuses in Syria. She previously worked with Physicians for Human Rights documenting the Assad regime’s systematic attacks on Syria’s healthcare system. Britt Gronemeyer, assistant director at the same project, supports accountability efforts concerning human rights violations in Iran, Syria, Ukraine, and beyond.
Global attention is now centered on the fragile ceasefire emerging across Gaza. This temporary peace brings vital relief to over two million civilians trapped within the enclave. While political leaders, mediators, and humanitarian organizations focus on ensuring a sustainable end to the hostilities and expediting aid delivery, legal experts and human rights defenders emphasize the necessity of pursuing justice.
“Israeli military action in Gaza over the past two years has obliterated international law, with near-daily reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity, costing tens of thousands of lives.”
Among the most egregious violations are the repeated strikes on hospitals and other medical facilities — numbering in the hundreds. Such acts not only devastate essential infrastructure but also constitute clear breaches of international humanitarian law.
Summary
Lawyers urge accountability for Israeli attacks in Gaza, highlighting that strikes on hospitals violate international law and demand global justice efforts.