Lebanon condemns Israeli "threats" against southern hospitals

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Lebanon's health ministry on Sunday condemned Israeli "threats" against hospitals in the south of the country, calling them a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

In a statement, the ministry said the threats posed a direct danger to civilian lives and medical teams. It added that healthcare facilities are humanitarian institutions entitled to protection under international law "at all times."

"Any targeting or threatening of medical facilities... constitutes a crime that cannot be justified under any pretext," the ministry said, while calling on the international community to intervene to protect the Lebanese healthcare system.

The statement followed reports from the management of the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil, a city in southern Lebanon, which said it had received threats via leaflets allegedly dropped by Israeli forces.

Hospital management rejected the accusations contained in the leaflets, describing them as "false claims" intended to spread fear. The facility, which has been in operation since 2000, said it remains committed to its humanitarian mission despite the pressure.

There was no immediate response from Israel to the Lebanese accusations.

Israel has frequently accused armed groups of using civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, for military purposes, a claim Lebanese health authorities and hospital administrators have repeatedly denied.