Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 51 people including medics, ministry says

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks across the country killed 51 people in the past 24 hours, including two medical workers, despite a ceasefire now entering its third week.

In a statement, the ministry accused Israel of targeting healthcare facilities in southern Lebanon.

“The Israeli enemy continues to violate international laws and humanitarian norms, adding more crimes against paramedics, as it directly targeted two points of the Health Authority in Qalawiya and Tibnin, Bint Jbeil district, in two raids.”

According to the ministry, 2,846 people have been killed since March 2, when Israeli forces launched a new military operation in Lebanon.

THe United Nations says at least 103 Lebanese medical workers have been killed and 230 injured in more than 130 Israeli strikes since the fighting intensified.

Ali Safiuddin, head of the Lebanese Civil Defence in Tyre, told Al Jazeera: “We’re under threat every second, every day.”

Al Jazeera reported from Tyre that international humanitarian law requires the protection of medical personnel during armed conflict.

War surgeon Dr Tahir Mohammed, who has worked in both Gaza and Lebanon, told Al Jazeera he had witnessed similar attacks before.

He said: “I’ve had colleagues, nurses, medical students killed by Israeli weapons.”