Nadine Osman
Israel used US-made MK-84 bombs dangerously close to Gaza hospitals after October 7, 2023, according to a Harvard study led by the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights.
Published in PLOS Global Public Health, the study analyzed satellite imagery from 36 hospitals and over 590 bomb craters recorded between October 7 and November 17, 2023. The MK-84 bombs, each weighing 2,000 lbs., have a blast radius of 1,180 ft. and can cause damage up to 2,625 ft.
Explosions occurred as close as 46 ft. from hospitals. In total, 83% of the examined hospitals were within 2,625 ft. of at least one bomb impact. Over 100 MK-84 bombs were documented in areas labeled “evacuation zones” for Palestinian civilians. Of these, 38 detonated within 2,625 ft. of hospitals.
(Credit: Muhammed Ali Yiğit – Anadolu Agency)
The study emphasized violations of international humanitarian law, which protects hospitals, particularly as thousands of civilians sheltered in and around these facilities.
Dennis Kunichoff, a research analyst at FXB, told Anadolu Agency that most countries avoid using such weapons in densely populated areas due to their destructive capacity. However, “Israel is not among those countries,” Kunichoff stated. The study found MK-84 bombs were widely used in Gaza, one of the world’s most crowded regions.
Regarding legal implications, Kunichoff added, “We hope the findings will provide evidence that hospitals were not protected as required by international humanitarian law.” FXB plans further investigations into Gaza bombings.
Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, Israel has escalated a large-scale offensive on Gaza despite UN Security Council calls for a ceasefire. Gaza health authorities report over 42,700 deaths, primarily women and children, with more than 100,300 injuries. The blockade has displaced nearly the entire population, causing shortages of essentials like food, water, and medicine.
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