Lebanese medical body calls on WHO, UN to stop Israeli 'massacre' of healthcare system

The International Lebanese Medical Association (Ilma) has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN to halt the Israeli "massacre" of Lebanon's healthcare system.

According to Lebanon's state-run agency, the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, Meiss El Jabal Governmental Hospital and Salah Ghandour Hospital were no longer operational as of Friday.

The association called on the WHO and the UN to facilitate the evacuation of patients and staff from the Salah Ghandour hospital in Bint Jbeil, where nine medical staff were injured by Israeli shelling on Friday. According to Lebanese news agency Al Mayadeen, Israeli forces refused to guarantee the safety of ambulances attempting to transport the wounded to hospital.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) reported that the Israeli military had declared the hospital an "unsafe combat zone".

“The ongoing crime against the medical sector and emergency teams has reached a level of audacity in violating UN charters and human rights, particularly regarding the right to medical care and hospitalisation for all individuals,” the association stated.

On Thursday, Lebanon's health minister, Firas Abiad, announced that 97 medical and emergency personnel have been killed by Israeli forces since 23 September, with dozens of medical centres damaged.

Abiad also denied Israeli claims that weapons are being stashed at hospitals or transported by Lebanese medical staff.