Rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement on Israel’s targeting ambulances, stating that the laws of conflict protect them in all circumstances, Al Jazeera reports.

International humanitarian law, or the laws of conflict, “provides that ambulances used exclusively for medical transportation must be respected and protected in all circumstances”, HRW said in a statement after Israel’s army attacked an ambulance near al-Shifa Hospital in 2023, killing and wounding dozens.

“Ambulances, like hospitals, have special protection,” HRW said. “They may not be targeted if being used to provide medical care of any kind, including to treat enemy fighters.”

Without providing evidence, Israel’s army alleged the ambulances and firetrucks in Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan were driven by Hamas fighters.