Gaza 2014-What did we learn?

Issues: The incidents recorded in Gaza during the armed conflict of 2014 are suggestive of

serious violations of human rights and international law.

Description: Two teams of independent medical experts, in a fact finding mission (FFM)

gathered and documented information from the Gaza Strip during real-time war and shortly after

in this first published report of events from the 2014 war. Its professional account of public

health, medical and civilian safety issues raises issues requiring further in-depth investigation.

Lessons learned: Large numbers of civilian casualties (up to 70%) resulted from lack of or

ineffective warnings of targets, lack of safe passage or location to shelter led to the feeling of no

safe place for the population.

The protection granted to medical teams, hospital staff and physicians was seriously

compromised by specific attacks on medical teams and facilities.

The team documented human rights violations in Khuza’a including the use of civilians as

human shields, humiliation and torture, denial of medical care to those obviously injured and

use of lethal force in residential homes.

The long-term psychological, medical and public health impacts of the 2014 war represent a

monumental challenge for the people of the Gaza Strip for many years to come.

Recommendation: We support Physicians for Human Rights-Israel call for an independent, in-

depth investigation in an attempt to prevent further hostilities leading to life-altering devastation.