Amnesty International has released yet another misleading report accusing Israel of “war crimes” for its legitimate self-defense actions against Hezbollah—a recognized terrorist organization that has been launching daily rocket, missile, and drone attacks at Israeli civilians since October 8, 2023.
The report, which focuses on four Israeli strikes between October 3-9, 2024, completely ignores Hezbollah’s systematic use of ambulances, hospitals, and medical facilities for military purposes. Instead, Amnesty International parrots Hezbollah propaganda, failing to acknowledge that under international law, medical facilities lose their protected status if they are used for military operations—which Hezbollah has been doing for years.
The Real War Crimes: Hezbollah’s Terrorist Attacks on Israel
Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah has fired over 38,000 rockets, drones, and missiles at Israel, targeting civilians in cities like Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Haifa. Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq have joined the attacks, while Iranian drones and missiles have targeted Israeli cities in the largest regional war Israel has faced in decades.
Key facts Amnesty International refuses to acknowledge:
- Hezbollah systematically uses hospitals and ambulances for military operations.
- Hezbollah has converted hospitals and clinics affiliated with the Islamic Health Association (IHA) into weapons storage sites and command centers.
- The IDF provided concrete evidence that Hezbollah transports weapons and fighters in ambulances, a war crime under international law.
- Israel targeted Hezbollah terrorists, not civilians.
- Israel does not attack civilian infrastructure unless it is being used for military purposes. The IDF only strikes medical facilities when they are being used by Hezbollah to launch attacks—and only after issuing warnings when possible.
- The IDF uses precision strikes, unlike Hezbollah, which fires indiscriminately at Israeli civilians.
- Hezbollah openly brags about targeting Israeli civilians.
- Unlike Israel, which goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties, Hezbollah’s leaders have openly admitted that their rockets deliberately target Israeli towns and cities.
- Amnesty International barely mentions this, proving its blatant double standard.
Israel’s Defensive Operation: A Necessary Response to Terrorism
On September 23, 2024, Israel launched Operation Northern Arrows to neutralize Hezbollah’s growing military threat along the northern border. Hezbollah escalated the war first, increasing its attacks on Israel despite multiple warnings. Every Israeli airstrike in Lebanon was a defensive measure against a terrorist organization that had turned hospitals, schools, and civilian areas into military bases.
False Claims About Israeli Strikes on Healthcare Facilities
Amnesty International’s so-called “investigation” into Israeli strikes between October 3-9, 2024, relies almost entirely on Hezbollah-controlled sources and interviews with individuals who have every reason to conceal the presence of terrorists at these sites.
Flawed “Investigation” Tactics
- Amnesty interviewed only 17 people—hardly a comprehensive report on a major conflict.
- The organization failed to independently verify whether Hezbollah fighters were present at these locations.
- Amnesty claims it “did not find evidence” of military use, but that is because it did not look for it.
The reality is that the IDF identified Hezbollah military activity at each of these sites. However, Amnesty International ignores classified intelligence and IDF surveillance footage, choosing instead to trust accounts from Hezbollah-linked sources.
The Hypocrisy of the ICC Demands
Amnesty International calls for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel, yet completely ignores Iran and Hezbollah’s war crimes, including:
- Deliberately targeting Israeli civilians in rocket barrages.
- Using human shields by embedding fighters and weapons inside medical facilities.
Israel’s Commitment to International Law
Unlike Hezbollah, Israel follows strict rules of engagement:
- Every IDF strike is based on verified intelligence.
- Warnings are issued when possible to allow civilians to evacuate.
- Hospitals and ambulances are only targeted if they are used for military purposes.
Amnesty International’s Blatant Anti-Israel Bias
Instead of holding Hezbollah accountable for its war crimes, Amnesty International falsely accuses Israel of “war crimes” for defending itself against terrorists who hide behind civilians. This is not just biased—it is dangerous. By ignoring Hezbollah’s use of human shields, Amnesty is legitimizing terrorism and putting innocent civilians at greater risk.
If Amnesty International truly cared about human rights, it would demand:
- An ICC investigation into Hezbollah’s war crimes against Israeli civilians.
- Accountability for Iran, which has funded, armed, and directed this war.
- An end to Hezbollah’s military presence in Lebanon, which has turned the country into an Iranian terror base.
Israel will continue to defend its people from Hezbollah’s terrorism, no matter how many biased NGOs try to distort the truth. The world must see Amnesty International’s report for what it is: a politically motivated attack on Israel that ignores the true war crimes being committed by Hezbollah, Iran, and their allies.
