Israeli Army Publishes Map Identifying Locations of Gaza Hospitals

On November 13, the Israeli army published a map identifying the locations of five major health complexes in the Gaza Strip, claiming they are used for military purposes. The map included Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Shifa Hospital, Al-Ahli (Al-Quds) Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north, and the European Hospital in the south.

The Israeli army claimed that these facilities are used to store weapons and to run command operations, but the Israeli administration did not provide independent evidence verifiable publicly that supports these accusations.

Palestinian health authorities and humanitarian organizations rejected the claims entirely and in detail, affirming that hospitals carry out civilian care duties amid harsh war conditions, and warning that the map may pave the way for new military operations that affect the health infrastructure.

The publication came at a time when the health sector in Gaza is laboring under severe pressures due to the scarcity of medicines, medical supplies and fuel, which threatens the capacities of operating rooms and intensive care units. International health organizations warn that any further decline in capacity will cast a shadow over delivery, dialysis and infectious disease control services.

Under the Geneva Conventions, civilian hospitals enjoy special protection and do not lose it automatically merely by accusations that they are used militarily; the loss of protection requires the fulfillment of strict conditions that include prior warning, the provision of sufficient time and guarantees for the protection of civilians, in addition to adherence to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in any military operation.