Undercover Israeli Killings at West Bank Hospital Could Constitute War Crimes: UN Experts

GENEVA (Reuters) – The recent killing of three Palestinian men at a hospital in the occupied West Bank by Israeli commandos disguised as medical personnel and women raises the possibility of war crimes, according to a statement from a group of U.N. experts released on Friday.

The men were fatally shot on January 29 during a covert operation conducted by Israeli military forces, including the army, Shin Bet security service, and border police, at the Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin, known for its volatility.

U.N. experts asserted that, under international humanitarian law, targeting a defenseless patient receiving medical treatment constitutes a war crime. They highlighted the case of Basel Al-Ghazzawi, who was reportedly being treated for injuries from an Israeli air strike.

Furthermore, the experts indicated that by impersonating hospital staff and civilians, the Israeli forces may have also committed the war crime of perfidy, which is strictly prohibited under any circumstances. They urged for an investigation into the incident.

The U.N. experts are special rapporteurs tasked with addressing various human rights issues.

Israel’s military had not provided an immediate response to this statement.

Surveillance footage from the hospital reportedly captured approximately ten individuals dressed in a mix of civilian and medical attire, some in headscarves and women’s clothing, moving through a corridor while armed with assault rifles.

The Israeli military has claimed that one of the deceased was affiliated with Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, while the others belonged to the Jenin Brigade and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

Violence in the West Bank has surged significantly following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent military incursion into Gaza.