Israel accused of 'hypocrisy' after calling hospital strike 'war crime'
An Iranian missile slammed into the Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel early on Thursday, injuring people and causing 'extensive damage', according to officials.
Iranian state media reports that the missile strike targeted a military site next to the hospital and not the facility itself.
Separate Iranian strikes hit a high-rise apartment building in Tel Aviv and other sites in central Israel, with at least 40 people injured according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service.
READ MORE: Israeli strikes kill 72 Palestinians, 29 waiting for aid trucks
Israel, meanwhile, has carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, its latest attack on the country's sprawling nuclear programme, on the seventh day of a conflict that began with a surprise wave of Israeli air strikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists.
Israel's deputy foreign affairs minister Sharren Haskel has called Iran's strike on the hospital "deliberate" and "criminal", while the Israeli health minister Uriel Buso said it was a war crime.
But Richard McNeil-Willson, who lectures in the Middle Eastern studies department at Edinburgh University, said while striking a hospital is a war crime, the country's ministers are displaying hypocrisy given Israel has 'time and again' attacked hospitals in Gaza.
'The bombing of a hospital is a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention, but it is a war crime that the Israeli state has committed time and again,' he told The National.
'Israel has not just targeted hospitals but has sought to wipe out the entire healthcare system in Gaza, in an area it is blockading and bombarding, amidst mass population displacement and acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter.
'Concern over the striking of the Soroka Medical Centre in Israel should be contrasted with the Israeli destruction of Al Ahli hospital, the siege of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, and attacks on all 36 hospitals in Gaza.
READ MORE: Israel's aggression makes mockery of self defence claims
'It must be contrasted with the killing of 227 journalists, more than any conflict in recent history; and with the scholasticide of schools, universities, and the destruction of all state infrastructure in Gaza. It must be contrasted with the entrapment, displacement and targeting of over two million Gazans in a genocide again.
'The mass murder of civilians by the Israeli State has been met by either total indifference or outright support by many politicians - including by the UK Government - and demonstrates the racism and hypocrisy not just at the heart of the Israeli state and Zionism, but in European and Western governments.'
Israeli forces have killed 70 Palestinians on Wednesday, including people waiting for aid trucks.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is to meet his US counterpart Marco Rubio today to discuss the situation in the Middle East as Donald Trump continues to consider joining Israeli strikes against Iran.
Israel's campaign has also targeted Iran's enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran and a nuclear site in Isfahan. Its strikes have killed top generals and nuclear scientists.
A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1300 wounded.
In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds.
The Arak heavy water reactor is 155 miles south-west of Tehran.
Heavy water helps cool nuclear reactors, but it produces plutonium as a byproduct that can potentially be used in nuclear weapons.
That would provide Iran another path to the bomb beyond enriched uranium, should it choose to pursue the weapon.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has been urging Israel not to strike Iranian nuclear sites. IAEA inspectors reportedly last visited Arak on May 14.
Due to restrictions Iran imposed on inspectors, the IAEA has said it lost 'continuity of knowledge' about Iran's heavy water production – meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
16 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base and vandalise planes
Pro-Palestinian activists have broken into an RAF base and sprayed two military planes with red paint. Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip show one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The incident was condemned by the Ministry of Defence who said the vandalism was being investigated by police. The Prime Minister called it 'disgraceful'. A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. 'They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton.
Western Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Security review launched after Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base
Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. Defence Secretary John Healey said he was 'disturbed' by the vandalism, while Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'disgraceful'. 'I am really disturbed that this happened and have ordered an investigation and a review of wider security at our bases,' Mr Healey said. 'These aircraft are used by our military personnel to support security and peace around the world. 'This action does nothing to support Gaza or our push for peace and stability in the Middle East.' Downing Street said security is being reviewed across the defence estate and that the Government is working closely with police. The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 A No 10 spokesman said: 'A full security review is under way at Brize Norton. 'We are reviewing security across the whole defence estate. 'We treat all breaches of security very seriously, and where there is suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute in line with longstanding principle.' He said the incident had not disrupted any planned aircraft movements or operations. Pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire (Palestine Action/PA) A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Footage showed one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker (Palestine Action/PA) A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. 'They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' Sir Keir said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton. 'Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.'
South Wales Guardian
31 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base and vandalise planes
Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip show one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The incident was condemned by the Ministry of Defence who said the vandalism was being investigated by police. The Prime Minister called it 'disgraceful'. A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. 'They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton. 'Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.'
