Israeli Airstrikes Target Hospitals in Southern Lebanon
In a shocking escalation of violence, Israeli aircraft bombed the entrance of Marjeyoun Governmental Hospital in southern Lebanon on October 4, 2024, leading to the deaths of paramedics and raising alarms about the safety of medical personnel in conflict zones. Dr. Mounes Kalakash, the hospital's director, reported that the airstrike occurred just five meters from the hospital's entrance, prompting medical staff to evacuate temporarily due to safety concerns. Despite the proximity of the attack, no injuries were reported among hospital staff at that time.
Rising Casualties Among Medical Workers
The ongoing conflict has severely impacted health services in Lebanon, particularly in areas heavily targeted by Israeli forces. The Lebanese National News Agency confirmed that two paramedics were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance in Marjeyoun. Additionally, two more paramedics lost their lives in a separate raid in Khirbet Selem, Nabatieh. Hezbollah has also reported casualties, stating that one of their paramedics was killed while others were injured in an Israeli attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The Lebanese Health Minister, Firass Abiad, revealed that over 40 ambulance and firefighter workers have died due to Israeli fire in just the past three days. This brings the total number of emergency responders killed since the escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel to 97, according to reports from the World Health Organization, which also stated that 73 health sector workers have been killed during this period.
