[ecr]

The ongoing Zionist aggression against the Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, 'has a clear objective: forcing the Palestinians to leave their land through an obvious policy of ethnic cleansing.'

“One of the cornerstones of this policy is the deliberate dismantling of the healthcare system," said Bendjama during a meeting addressing the Middle East crisis, convened at Algeria's request as it chairs the Security Council for January.

Referring to the report of the UN Human Rights Office, released on 31 December, the diplomat mentioned 136 attacks by Zionist forces that targeted at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical structures, resulting in huge damages.  

In Gaza, 53% of hospitals are now completely non-functional, he pointed out.

“Of the 138 primary healthcare centers, only 6 are still fully operational. 130 ambulances have been damaged, over 14,000 patients need urgent medical evacuation abroad, and more than 1,000 healthcare workers have lost their lives. Hundreds more have been detained,' he added."

"NGOs have reported cases of torture and ill-treatment of medical staff. According to the UN, multiple doctors have died while being detained by Zionist authorities," he went on.

Bendjama stressed that the Zionist attacks on critical healthcare services and medical personnel "bear the hallmarks of genocidal tactics.

"On December 27, following over three months of blockade and relentless attacks (...) the Zionist occupation forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, the primary healthcare facility in northern Gaza. The hospital came under fire from snipers, tanks, and drones, spreading fear among patients and medical personnel," he said.

The actions of the Zionist army include acts of torture, executions, destruction of vital medical equipment, and the ignition of fires that destroyed parts of the hospital," he added. The Zionist forces "actively sought to shut down the hospital by rendering it completely inoperable," he further stated.

He also emphasized that the destructive actions carried out by the Zionist army were not driven by any military necessity. Rather, it was a "deliberate effort to deprive northern Gaza of essential health services and force the population to displace."

He noted that the intentional destruction of medical facilities could constitute "an act of collective punishment, which is regarded as a war crime under international law."

Bendjama further referenced the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2286, both of which stress the importance of safeguarding medical workers and healthcare infrastructure during armed conflicts.

[/ecr]