Dozens of medics in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Youssef Assaf, a volunteer paramedic with the Lebanese Red Cross, was killed by an Israeli airstrike on March 9 during a rescue mission in southern Lebanon, highlighting concerns about attacks on health workers amid the conflict.
- Lebanon's government reports that at least 54 health workers have been killed by Israeli attacks, with human rights groups alleging that first responders are being deliberately targeted, a claim Israel denies.
- The Lebanese Red Cross follows a protocol of notifying Israel via UN peacekeepers before ambulance deployments, but despite this, paramedics like Assaf have been struck, prompting complaints to Israel that went unanswered.
- Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International cite past and recent attacks on medical personnel and facilities by Israel as apparent war crimes, emphasizing that health workers are protected under international law.
- Israel accuses Hezbollah of exploiting medical teams and ambulances for military purposes, justifying some strikes, while Hezbollah-linked first responders report operating under threat of "double-tap" attacks, where rescuers are targeted after initial strikes.
