Pretoria: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa has issued a strong condemnation of the recent Israeli missile strike on civilian targets in Gaza, specifically targeting the al-Ahli Arab hospital. The attack, which occurred on Sunday, has exacerbated the already critical shortage of emergency medical care in Gaza as many wounded individuals were forced to evacuate.
According to South African Government News Agency, DIRCO stated that Israel has bombed, burned, and destroyed at least 35 hospitals in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023. The South African government emphasized that such actions are a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the IV Geneva Convention of 1949, which considers attacks on health facilities, medical personnel, and patients as war crimes.
The incident at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital is part of a broader pattern of violence, including the recent killing of 15 humanitarian personnel in Gaza. Victims include eight health workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, one staff member from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and six members of the Palestinian Civil Defense. These individuals were reportedly on a rescue mission when they were deliberately targeted by Israeli military forces.
DIRCO expressed its concern over Israel’s decision to halt the entry of all aid into Gaza since last month, defying the binding provisional orders of the International Court of Justice, which mandated Israel to ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. The department urged the international community to hold Israel accountable and take effective countermeasures against what it described as Israel’s “genocidal actions in Palestine.”