Targeting hospitals is psychological warfare Israel can get away with with the US’s tacit approval, say analysts. Israeli tanks close in on a Palestinian hospital. Doctors and medical staff are warned that they must leave — with or without patients in need. Artillery assaults follow, even if thousands of people are still inside. On Monday, it was the turn of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, Gaza. At least 12 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the facility, even as armored vehicles edge closer and closer to the hospital. But it was only the latest medical center to face the wrath of the Israeli army.
Throughout the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, hospitals have emerged as a motif of the conflict, with at least 21 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals completely out of service. Other hospitals have been damaged and are facing shortages of medicines and essential supplies. The al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s solo cancer center, has also been occupied by Israeli forces, leaving thousands of displaced civilians and patients at risk.
While Israel claims to be targeting facilities housing Hamas fighters or infrastructure, human rights organizations have accused Israel of war crimes for targeting hospitals. However, analysts suggest that the real reason Israel targets hospitals is psychological warfare. By attacking hospitals, Israel sends a message to the Palestinian population that nowhere is safe, instilling fear and quelling resistance.
Tahani Mustafa, a senior Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group, explains that Israel’s actions are part of a longstanding pattern of harassment of medical staff and services. The goal is to intimidate local populations and undermine their will to resist. Trita Parsi, the executive vice president at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, adds that Israel targets civilian buildings like hospitals because it believes it can get away with it, particularly with the US’s support. As long as the United States refuses to impose limits on Israeli actions, Israel feels it can act with impunity.
However, the US’s global standing and credibility may be at stake as it continues to support Israeli actions. The ferocity of Israeli attacks on hospitals and civilian buildings is damaging the United States’ image around the world. Pressure may mount on the US to urge its ally to dial down its attacks, as the damage being done is deemed intolerable.
As the war in Gaza wages on, concerns grow over the psychological warfare tactics employed by Israel. With hospitals being targeted, the safety and well-being of the Palestinian population are at risk. The international community, including human rights organizations, continues to condemn Israel’s actions. The impact on the United States’ reputation and credibility is also a growing concern. The question remains whether the US will take action to limit Israeli actions and alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
