Human shields 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict

photo taken during 72-hour ceasefire between hamas , israel on 6 august 2014. destroyed ambulance in shuja iyya in gaza strip.

medical units including hospitals , medical personnel have special protections under international humanitarian law. lose protection if commit, outside humanitarian function, acts harmful enemy. more 25 medical facilities damaged in conflict; 1 attack on al-aqsa hospital killed 5 people. in many cases, ambulances , other medical personnel hit. amnesty international has condemned attacks , said there mounting evidence israel deliberately targeted hospitals , medical personnel; israel said had not.

a finnish reporter helsingin sanomat reported seeing rockets fired near gaza al-shifa hospital. idf said in several cases hamas used wafa hospital military base , used ambulances transport fighters. according israeli shabak, many of militants interrogated said knew hamas leaders using hospitals hiding. hamas security reportedly wore police uniforms , blocked access parts of hospitals. 1 of interrogated militants reportedly said civilians seeking medical attention thrown out security. washington post described al-shifa hospital de facto headquarters hamas leaders, can seen in hallways , offices. amnesty international reported that: hamas forces used abandoned areas of al-shifa hospital in gaza city, including outpatients’ clinic area, detain, interrogate, torture , otherwise ill-treat suspects, other parts of hospital continued function medical centre .

french-palestinian journalist radjaa abu dagga reported hamas militants interrogated him in gaza s main hospital (al-shifa); report later removed paper s website @ request.

mohammed al falahi, secretary general of red crescent, uae said hamas militants fired on israeli planes red crescent s field hospital in order provoke retaliation, attacked red crescent team on way , planted land mines on path.