Four Lebanese Hospitals Halt Services as Israeli Bombing Intensifies

In recent times, multiple hospitals in Lebanon have been compelled to cease operations due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment. The cease in operations includes four hospitals, notably after Hezbollah-affiliated emergency personnel reported 11 casualties from Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

Amidst these escalations, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called upon the global community to influence Israel to facilitate access for rescue and medical teams to the sites of bombardments. He highlighted the severe impact on emergency teams, noting the deaths of many emergency workers recently.

One such affected facility, Sainte Therese Hospital in Beirut’s southern suburbs, experienced severe damage from nearby Israeli airstrikes, leading to a suspension of all hospital services. Similarly, Mays al-Jabal hospital, located at the Israel-Lebanon border, ceased operations due to direct targeting and logistical challenges affecting supplies and staff movements.

In an alarming incident reported by Mouenes Kalakesh, the director of Marjayoun governmental hospital, Israeli airstrikes targeted ambulances at the hospital’s entrance, resulting in fatalities among paramedics and forcing the hospital’s closure. The Islamic Health Committee also reported the deaths of several emergency workers in Marjayoun and other locations due to direct strikes.

Further complicating the situation, the Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused Hezbollah of exploiting ambulances for military purposes, warning that such vehicles could be targeted if found transporting combatants or military gear.

Additional strikes were reported on the Salah Ghandour hospital in Bint Jbeil, leading to casualties among the medical staff and the evacuation of the facility.

This ongoing conflict, which has seen nearly daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanon-Israel border, has significantly escalated since September 23, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis with over 1,110 people killed and up to a million displaced, as per official figures.