Lebanese Islamic Health Authority: 15 Martyrs, Over 30 Wounded Among Paramedics Since Beginning of Aggression
The General Directorate of Civil Defense – Islamic Health Authority in Lebanon revealed last night that 15 paramedics have been martyred and more than 30 wounded since the resumption of the Zionist aggression against Lebanon on March 2nd.
In a statement published by the Lebanese National News Agency, the Authority said: “Continuing its aggressive approach, which violates all international laws and norms, the Israeli enemy persists in targeting health centers and ambulance teams working to serve the people, disregarding the sanctity of humanitarian work and the protection guaranteed by international laws to medical and relief personnel.”
She added: “Since the beginning of the latest aggression against Lebanon, the Civil Defense centers, vehicles, and teams of the Islamic Health Authority have been subjected to a series of direct attacks, resulting in the martyrdom of 15 paramedics and injuries to more than 30 others who were performing their humanitarian duty of rescuing the wounded and providing relief to civilians.”
She noted that the latest attack by the Zionist enemy targeted the vicinity of an ambulance point in Hanawiya, resulting in the martyrdom of one paramedic and injuries to two others.
She emphasized that “these attacks constitute a blatant violation of all international conventions, foremost among them the Geneva Conventions, which clearly stipulate the protection of medical and humanitarian personnel during conflicts.”
She condemned “these repeated attacks targeting rescue and ambulance teams while they are carrying out their humanitarian duty.”
The Authority called upon the international community and humanitarian and human rights organizations to “assume their legal and moral responsibilities to stop the targeting of the health and ambulance sector in Lebanon and to ensure the necessary protection for humanitarian workers.” The Civil Defense – Islamic Health Authority called on all media outlets to “exercise professional responsibility and refrain from publishing or circulating any obituaries or photos of the martyred paramedics outside of official channels, and to adhere to the statements issued by the central media office of the Civil Defense – Islamic Health Authority, in order to preserve the dignity of the martyrs and the feelings of their families.”
The Authority saluted “its martyred paramedics who ascended to martyrdom in the field of humanitarian service,” renewing “its pledge to them and their families that this journey will continue, and that the Civil Defense – Islamic Health Authority will remain present in the field alongside the people, fulfilling its humanitarian mission with utmost sincerity and dedication, in loyalty to the blood of the martyrs and in service to humanity wherever it may be.”
The Israeli enemy escalated its criminal aggression against Lebanon, targeting Lebanese towns, villages, and cities, intensifying its raids, coinciding with the aggression launched by America and the Zionist entity against Iran.