Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza said Israel struck a convoy of ambulances on Friday that was to leave al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and head to the south of the enclave to evacuate injured people.
Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza said Israel struck a convoy of ambulances on Friday that was to leave al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and head to the south of the enclave to evacuate injured people.
The ministry never distinguishes between civilians and combatants. That becomes clearer after the dust settles, when the U.N. and rights groups investigate and militant groups offer a tally of members killed. The Israeli military also conducts post-war investigations.
The Health Ministry doesn't report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or other means, like errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression.”
To be clear, this means that in the records of the Gazan medical system there is no difference at all between a rocket blowing up in the face of a squad of terrorists trying to launch it, and a mosque full of pensioners getting hit by an IDF air strike.
One could like infer a number mathematically by referencing deaths of women and children (14 and below, as otherwise people will say they are child soldiers). I agree these numbers are not enough though, which is why Israel should allow in UN monitoring agencies and others to create that more full picture. Also from the article:
“The numbers may not be perfectly accurate on a minute-to-minute basis,” said Michael Ryan, of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program. “But they largely reflect the level of death and injury.”
In previous wars, the ministry's counts have held up to U.N. scrutiny, independent investigations and even Israel's tallies.
It released its first detailed report on the casualties Thursday, giving names, ID numbers, ages and gender for Palestinians it says have been killed.
So, while imperfect it still is obviously the best and only resource at the moment. Perhaps Israel could start going through those lists and letting us know which ones matched to their database of terrorists?
"The occupation targeted the convoy in more than one location outside the door of al-Shifa Hospital," Ashraf al-Qidra the ministry spokesperson said.
He said the convoy was targeted both at the hospital gate and at Ansar Square a kilometer away.
Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television cited the Health Ministry as saying scores of people were killed and injured.
Earlier on Friday, Qidra said ambulances would send critically injured Palestinians who urgently needed care in Egypt from besieged Gaza City to the south of the enclave.
Israel, which has accused Hamas of concealing command centres and tunnel entrances in al-Shifa hospital, ordered all civilians to leave the north of Gaza last month and its military encircled the area on Thursday.
Hamas and al-Shifa hospital authorities have denied the facility is used as a base by militant fighters.
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