An Iranian missile struck Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, southern Israel, on Wednesday, leaving several people injured and prompting outrage from Israeli officials. Health Minister Uriel Buso condemned the attack as a “war crime,” claiming the strike deliberately targeted civilians and healthcare personnel.
“This is a war crime by the Iranian regime, deliberately targeting innocent civilians and medical teams dedicated to saving lives,” Buso said, speaking to Israel’s Army Radio. “Iran has crossed a red line.”
According to Buso, Israeli emergency services had been on alert, which helped avert a larger catastrophe. “The Health Ministry was prepared in advance, and thanks to the immediate actions we took, a major disaster was averted,” he added.
Iran has not yet commented on the specific incident at the hospital.
The missile strike comes amid a sharp escalation between Iran and Israel, following months of regional volatility and tit-for-tat attacks involving both state and non-state actors.
Accusations of Double Standards
Buso’s claim of a war crime has drawn scrutiny in light of Israel’s own recent actions in Gaza. Over the past two years, Israel has launched repeated strikes on Gaza, including the bombing of hospitals and densely populated civilian areas. Human rights groups and international observers have accused Israeli forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, blocking humanitarian aid, and limiting access to foreign journalists and UN missions.
While Israeli authorities maintain that their actions target Hamas militants, critics argue that indiscriminate bombings and siege tactics have disproportionately harmed civilians and undermined international humanitarian law.
As tensions grow, the international community remains divided over the legality and morality of both Iran and Israel’s conduct, with calls mounting for independent investigations into civilian targeting on both sides.
