Geneva, 27 March 2026 – Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) strongly condemns the targeting and killing of medical workers in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli strikes. Medical personnel, facilities, and transport are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law, and any attacks against them are unlawful. Recent reports indicate a growing number of medical workers killed and injured, as well as repeated strikes on healthcare facilities and ambulances, further endangering civilians and undermining access to care.
“The targeting of medical workers is not only unlawful, it is devastating for the broader civilian population,” said Hichem Khadhraoui, CIVIC Executive Director. “When those providing care are killed or injured, entire communities are left without life-saving support. What we are seeing reflects tactics that have been used previously in Lebanon in 2024, and more recently in Gaza, where health facilities and medical workers have come under repeated attack. These are not isolated incidents; they point to a pattern of harm that is eroding already fragile health systems and placing countless lives at risk.”
The impact extends far beyond the attacks themselves. Local medical workers and first responders are often the first—and sometimes only—line of care for affected populations. As health systems come under increasing strain, civilians face worsening conditions, with reduced access to treatment, heightened vulnerability, and increased risk of preventable deaths. CIVIC is equally concerned by physical access to health facilities, rendered difficult—if not impossible—owing to roads and bridges being targeted.
“Reports of repeated strikes on healthcare infrastructure, including so-called ‘double-tap’ strikes targeting responders as they assist victims, raise serious questions about whether those providing life-saving care are being deliberately placed at risk,” said Khadhraoui. “Such practices not only endanger responders but also amplify civilian harm and undermine access to care.”
The escalation is also driving widespread civilian harm beyond direct attacks on healthcare. Since 2 March, more than 1.2 million people—nearly a fifth of Lebanon’s population—have been displaced. Over 1,000 people have been killed with hundreds more injured.
As a signatory to the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, CIVIC calls on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and take immediate steps to ensure the protection of medical and humanitarian workers at all times.
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international humanitarian NGO dedicated to protecting civilians in conflict. We work with affected communities, armed actors, and decision makers to prevent and respond to harm to civilians and make their protection a global priority.
Media Contact:
- Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, CIVIC – [email protected], WhatsApp: +19178895982
- Communications, HQ – [email protected]
Image courtesy of Dar Al Mussawir/UNICEF
