International Intervention Urged After Israeli Forces Raid West Bank Hospital, Arrest Injured Patient
The Palestinian Ministry of Health is demanding international intervention to halt what it calls escalating Israeli attacks on its healthcare system, Al Jazeera reports.
The ministry issued a statement Wednesday condemning the arrest of an injured Palestinian patient, Ayman Ghanem, from the Arab Specialized Hospital in Nablus. The raid, described as a “flagrant violation of international law,” follows a drone attack near Tubas on Tuesday that killed three and injured Ghanem.
Israeli authorities confirmed the arrest, identifying Ghanem as a member of a terrorist cell responsible for an August shooting attack at Mehola Junction that killed an Israeli. A joint statement from the Israeli military, Shin Bet security service, and police accused Ghanem of planning further attacks and posing an “imminent threat.” They asserted that security forces will continue operations to counter terrorism and protect Israeli civilians.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health called upon international organizations, including the Red Cross, to intervene and protect the health system. The ministry’s statement highlights the protected status of health establishments under international humanitarian law, encompassing medical staff, patients, and transportation.
This incident is not an isolated case. Wafa news agency reported a separate Israeli raid on a hospital in Tubas on Tuesday, following an attack that killed two Palestinians. Five hospital staff members, including the director, were arrested, and the head of the emergency department was reportedly severely beaten.
Israeli forces have increasingly targeted West Bank hospitals for arrests and body retrieval following attacks. In a particularly egregious incident in January, Israeli undercover operatives disguised as medical personnel fatally shot three Palestinians inside Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin while they slept. Video footage of the incident has been widely circulated online.
