Secretary Philippe Lazzarini stressed that no place or person in Gaza is safe since the war began in October 2023.
“As the new year begins, we receive reports of a new attack on Al Mawashi that left dozens of people dead and injured,” he said, adding, “This is a reminder that there is no such thing as a humanitarian zone, let alone a ‘safe zone.’ It reminded me of that,” he said.
“Every day without a ceasefire will bring even more tragedy,” he warned.
Media under attack
Separately, UNRWA recalled that Israeli authorities continue to prevent international media from operating and reporting within the Gaza Strip.
“International journalists must be allowed access to report freely from Gaza,” the agency said.
In this context, the United Nations Human Rights Office OHCHR said it was deeply concerned that the Palestinian Authority (PA) had suspended the operations of Al Jazeera News Network in the occupied West Bank.
The Qatar-based channel was accused of broadcasting “inflammatory content” that “deceives and incites conflict”, according to international media reports citing the Palestinian state news agency Wafa.
OHCHR said the incident occurred amid an “alarming trend” of suppressing freedom of opinion and expression in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on Palestine to “change course and respect its obligations under international law”. .
Rights experts lament ‘blatant disregard’ for health
Meanwhile, two independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council have said that following last week’s attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north and arbitrary arrest and detention, they believe that “the right to health in Gaza” He called for an end to what he called “the blatant disregard for of that director.
Dr. Tlalen Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health, and Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed their concerns in a statement released on Thursday. .
“More than a year after the genocide, Israel’s blatant attack on the right to health in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories has taken on new depths of impunity,” they said. .
Medical exposed to gunfire
Experts were “horrified and concerned” by reports from northern Gaza of “attacks on health workers, especially the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last of the 22 hospitals now destroyed.”
They expressed grave concern over the fate of the hospital’s director, Dr. Hassam Abu Safiyah, who was “harassed and kidnapped by occupation forces for refusing to comply with evacuation orders to leave patients and families.” “He is yet another doctor who has been arrested and arbitrarily detained.” Colleagues behind me. ”
They said these actions are “part of a pattern by Israel of continuing to bombard, destroy and completely obliterate the realization of the right to health in Gaza.”
Dr. Hossam Abu Safiyah, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital;
Hospital director’s concerns
Experts pointed out that before Dr. Abu Safiyah was kidnapped, his son was killed in front of him.
Furthermore, the doctor “recently sustained injuries in the line of duty as a result of genocidal acts by Israel,” but “continued to provide treatment while the hospital was under continuous shelling and intimidation.”
“Further alarming reports indicate that Israeli forces have allegedly carried out extrajudicial executions of some people, including a Palestinian man who was allegedly flying a white flag,” it added.
Not applicable
According to independent experts, more than 1,057 Palestinian health and medical professionals have been killed, many arbitrarily arrested.
“The heroic actions of our Palestinian medical colleagues in Gaza teach us what it means to take the medical oath. “It is also a clear sign of humankind’s transformation,” they said.
Human rights experts stress that health workers enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law, saying: “Health workers are not legitimate targets of attack and cannot be lawfully detained for the exercise of their profession.” I can’t even be held back.”
Ending violence and arbitrary arrest
The experts called on Israel, as the occupying power, to respect and protect the right to life and health in the Gaza Strip and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“They must also ensure the immediate release of Dr. Hassam Abu Safiyah and all other arbitrarily detained medical workers, as they are the last Palestinians to be arbitrarily arrested. May the new year begin with a different auspices.”
About the UN Rapporteur
Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, headquartered in Geneva. They are mandated to monitor and report on specific country situations and thematic issues.
These experts are not United Nations employees, do not receive a salary, and work in their individual capacity, independent of the United Nations Secretariat.
