FRESH AIR

Israel didn’t target the IVF clinic

March 14, 2025 | Bren Carlill

(Image: Shutterstock)
(Image: Shutterstock)

Media reporting on a recent UN commission report has focused on the destruction of frozen embryos at an IVF clinic in Gaza. The UN and media imply that Israel intended to destroy the embryos. However, evidence does not support this.

Al-Basma Fertility clinic is in Zeitoun, a neighbourhood of Gaza City. It temporarily closed in November 2023, due to the war.

The building was damaged by a single shell in December 2023. That shell destroyed the centre’s frozen embryos. (The lids of five liquid nitrogen tanks stored in a corner of the embryology unit were lifted off in the blast and the nitrogen therein evaporated.)

At the time, shelling in the surrounding area was also occurring.

Al-Basma’s chief embryologist and IVF lab director said in April 2024, “We don’t know if this was a deliberate targeting or not”. Similarly, the clinic’s founder, Bahaeldeen Ghalayini said he did not know whether the mortar hit had targeted the lab or not.

It is also of note that, in December 2023, Islamic Jihad said it targeted Israeli forces in Zeitoun with mortars. Also, a Tehran Times article claimed that Hamas fighters had targeted an Israeli troop carrier in Zeitoun with al-Yassin 105 shells. (Al-Yassin 105 is an anti-armour missile developed by Hamas)

Some points:

  • If Israel’s intention was to destroy the IVF centre, it would have levelled it, rather than been satisfied with a single shell that might or might not have destroyed the frozen embryos.
  • That shelling was occurring in the vicinity is evidence that Israel’s objective was not to target the clinic, but that it was an errant shell.
  • There was significant fighting in Zeitoun in December 2023.
  • War crimes are measured by intent, not effect. If Israel intended to target the clinic (and there were no combatants using it for military purposes), that would have been a war crime. If the clinic was unintentionally hit by Israel, that would not have been a war crime.
  • There are nine IVF clinics in Gaza. If all of these had been purposefully destroyed in the fighting, that would be evidence of an intention to commit genocide. However, the UN report only mentions one IVF clinic.

Tags: , , ,

RELATED ARTICLES

Screenshot 2025 06 27 At 4.03.57 pm

Weekend Hebrew media update: Gaza, Iran and Israel

Jun 27, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Targeted Israeli strikes in Teheran (Source: Heute.at)

Inside Israel’s strike on Iran: The intelligence coups that made it possible

Jun 27, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 25 At 6.06.49 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Were the goals achieved?

Jun 25, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 24 At 7.12.23 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Will the ceasefire hold?

Jun 24, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 23 At 7.53.42 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – US joins the fight

Jun 23, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 19 At 6.54.53 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Soroka Hospital struck

Jun 19, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
D11a774c 2a47 C987 F4ce 2d642e6d9c8d

Bibi in DC, the Houthi threat and the politicised ICJ opinion

Jul 26, 2024 | Update
Image: Shutterstock

Nine months after Oct. 7: Where Israel stands now

Jul 10, 2024 | Update
Palestinian Red Crescent workers from Al-Najjar Hospital in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip (Image: Shutterstock)

Hamas’ impossible casualty figures

Mar 28, 2024 | Update
455daec3 C2a8 8752 C215 B7bd062c6bbc

After the Israel-Hamas ceasefire for hostages deal

Nov 29, 2023 | Update
Screenshot of Hamas bodycam footage as terrorists approach an Israeli vehicle during the terror organisation's October 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, released by the IDF and GPO (Screenshot)

Horror on Video / International Law and the Hamas War

Oct 31, 2023 | Update
Sderot, Israel. 7th Oct, 2023. Bodies of dead Israelis lie on the ground following the attacks of Hamas (Image: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s Sept. 11, only worse

Oct 11, 2023 | Update
Screenshot

Australian government’s response to Iran-Israel conflict ‘disappointing’: Paul Rubenstein on Sky News

Jun 17, 2025 | Video
Screenshot

UNRWA feeds the ‘Palestinian delusion’ of no Jewish state: Dr Einat Wilf on Sky News

Jun 12, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 05 30 At 11.22.09 AM

Albanese urged to visit Israel instead of ‘throwing mud’ over Gaza war: Joel Burnie on Sky News

May 30, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 05 09 At 12.06.51 PM

The Australian elections and the Middle East: Joel Burnie on the Middle East Forum podcast

May 9, 2025 | Video
Screenshot 2025 05 07 At 9.28.49 AM

Greens ran a ‘toxic and divisive’ election campaign for Jewish voters: Joel Burnie on Sky News

May 7, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 04 09 At 12.12.01 PM

Hamas sees live Israeli hostages as their “ultimate insurance policy”: Ehud Yaari on Sky News

Apr 9, 2025 | Featured, Video

RECENT POSTS

Screenshot 2025 06 27 At 4.03.57 pm

Weekend Hebrew media update: Gaza, Iran and Israel

Targeted Israeli strikes in Teheran (Source: Heute.at)

Inside Israel’s strike on Iran: The intelligence coups that made it possible

An Iranian atomic energy exhibition at Islamic Revolution & Holy Defense Museum, 2018 (Source: Shutterstock)

Fact Sheet: Why did Israel attack Iran?

An American B2 bomber (screenshot)

Sometimes a military solution is necessary

Image: Screenshot

Food, lies and videotapes

SORT BY TOPICS