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Rights group claims Israel military violated medical ethics code in Gaza offensive

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR) Monday criticized  the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) for allegedly violating its own code of ethics and general principles of human rights by impeding the treatment those needing medical care during Israel's recent Gaza offensive. In a new report the group accused the IDF of preventing the sick and wounded from evacuating homes and medical facilities in pursuit of better treatment during the offensive, leading to otherwise preventable deaths. PHR also said it had received reports of the IDF attacking ambulances, medical teams and medical facilities. In a report  published last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1,380 Palestinians and 16 medical workers were killed during the offensive and at least 5,380 Palestinians and 25 were injured.  The IDF's conduct during the offensive has been scrutinized by a number of human rights advocacy groups. Last week, a group of 16 human rights investigators and judges sent an open letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the UN Security Council calling for an investigation into alleged war crimes. In January, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called for an independent investigation of possible war crimes and human rights violations in Gaza. International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is also attempting to gain jurisdiction over Israel to investigate its actions in Gaza for alleged war crimes. Israel has already begun to consider defenses against possible war crimes charges, partly based on accusations that it used white phosphorus in a civilian area.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 23, 2009 (boomark / email).