UN Experts Accuse Israel of Practicing 'Medicide' in Gaza
In a shocking turn of events, United Nations experts have compared the situation in Gaza to an ongoing genocide and a "medicide," a deliberate act calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. The experts have denounced Israel for committing "medicide" in Gaza, urging a ceasefire as "a first step to hold Israel accountable" and prevent "the extermination" of Gaza's population.
The recent airstrike near Gaza's largest hospital killed six Palestinian journalists, including two veteran Al Jazeera correspondents. The strike hit a marked press tent late Sunday beside Al-Shifa Hospital in western Gaza City. The dead journalists were Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qraiqea from Al Jazeera, Ibrahim Dahir, Moumin Alaywa, assistant photojournalist Mohammed Noufal, and Sahat news reporter Mohammed Al-Khalidi.
The attacks have resulted in the deaths of 917 people and injuries to 1,411, as reported by the World Health Organization. The conditions in Gaza continue to be compared to an ongoing genocide and "medicide," a deliberate act calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. The health care system in Gaza is being systematically dismantled by Israel's forces. From October 7, 2023, to June 11, 2025, there were 735 attacks on health care in Gaza, according to the World Health Organization.
The attacks also damaged 125 health facilities, including 34 hospitals. The UN has reported medical staff in Gaza fainting from hunger, undermining their ability to treat patients. The situation contributes to a collapsed healthcare system in Gaza amid an escalating humanitarian crisis, with mass starvation spreading and thousands of Palestinians killed while seeking food.
Current allegations against Israel regarding actions in Gaza focus on the deliberate obstruction and weaponization of humanitarian aid, which severely impacts medical workers and the healthcare system. Over 100 aid organizations accuse Israel of imposing a new registration system for international NGOs that effectively blocks humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, water, and shelter supplies, from entering Gaza, despite official Israeli claims denying such restrictions. Since early March 2025, major international NGOs have been unable to deliver lifesaving supplies, with Israel rejecting over 60 requests by NGOs in July alone, labeling many as “not authorized to deliver aid.”
The UN experts have stated that medical workers in Gaza are continuously targeted, detained, and tortured. The strike is facing global condemnation, with the UN experts expressing their inability to remain silent about the war crimes they have witnessed in Gaza. The strike is a gross violation of international humanitarian law. The situation in Gaza is a grave concern for the international community, and urgent action is needed to ensure the protection of civilians and the preservation of the healthcare system in Gaza.
References:
[1] "Israel accused of 'medicide' in Gaza after journalists killed in air strike." The Guardian, 12 June 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/12/israel-accused-of-medicide-in-gaza-after-journalists-killed-in-air-strike
[2] "Israel's Attacks on Gaza: A Deliberate Dismantling of Healthcare Capacity and Targeting of Aid Efforts." Amnesty International, 15 June 2025. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/israels-attacks-on-gaza-a-deliberate-dismantling-of-healthcare-capacity-and-targeting-of-aid-efforts/
