The question of whether it is immoral to treat terrorists in Israeli hospitals stirs strong emotions and deep ethical debates. It has been an intense discussion in Israeli society over the years and, particularly, post-Oct. 7, 2023.
In Israel, the prevailing belief is that doctors and nurses have a moral obligation to provide medical care to all individuals in need, regardless of their actions or background. Israel’s health-care system, which is renowned for its medical expertise and advancement, stands out for its historical practice of treating terrorists who have attacked, wounded and murdered its citizens. The most recent example includes Hamas terrorists who were injured while carrying out mass slaughter, torture and rape against Israeli soldiers and civilians. Israel’s courts have upheld this practice, asserting that health care is a universal right, and by treating individuals, even those intent on harming Israel’s citizens, the system aligns with fundamental humanitarian principles.
Following the brutal massacre on Oct. 7, Israel seemed to reconsider its stance, leading the Israeli Ministry of Health to issue a directive that captured terrorists should only be treated in prison facilities. Given the horrific nature of the attacks on Israeli citizens, this approach seemed more aligned with what might be expected. Despite this decision, it was ultimately disregarded. Although some terrorists were treated in prison facilities, Hamas terrorists were also transferred to civilian hospitals in Israeli cities, including Ramat Gan, Petach Tikvah and Beersheva.
During the ensuing months of the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war, Israeli hospitals continued to treat terrorists who were responsible for the rape, slaughter and torture of many, alongside their victims. This placed an immense strain on the health-care system, which was already reeling from the horrific events of Oct. 7 and the influx of thousands of injured soldiers from the subsequent conflict.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, between October and December 2023, more than 10,580 Israelis were wounded in the war with Hamas in Gaza, the Hezbollah attacks along the Lebanon border, and the ongoing terrorist assaults in Judea and Samaria.
If this isn’t shocking enough on its own, it seems that terrorists receive more than just essential medical care and lifesaving treatment.
According to one news article, senior doctors at Hasharon Hospital in central Israel reported that terrorists receive all-encompassing medical care. The doctor also reports that there is no clear policy between essential and non-essential treatment. Doctors and medical staff who treat these terrorists are not allowed to give their real names nor are they allowed to sign their names due to the significant security risk of treating such patients during the treatment and post the treatment. This is an untenable situation.
These security risks are also undoubtedly associated with substantial costs linked to treating high-risk terrorists. These include the expenses associated with maintaining high-security measures to prevent escapes, protect other patients and ensure the safety of medical staff. Such security costs can quickly accumulate, especially if terrorists require specialized treatment or long-term care. Health-care expenses also include the costs of medical professionals, hospital visits and medications. These costs are further compounded by the need to provide food and other basic necessities. It is shocking and deeply troubling that Israel’s citizens are forced to bear such a heavy burden. These costs are borne by the people who are effectively paying to restore the health of those who seek to harm them and who could potentially return and murder the very people who helped them.
Despite all this, Israel’s Medical Association maintains that it must continue to treat these terrorists. In mid-2024, the Israeli Medical Association published a letter stating that “treating Hamas terrorists is our duty as doctors.” However, the real question one must ask when considering such a statement is the following: Is Israel acting ethically when it treats terrorists, or is it behaving immorally and betraying its own citizens?
I would like to raise three critical issues at this juncture. First, on the principle of the sanctity and preservation of life. Does this principle apply when it comes to individuals who have actively engaged in violence and terrorism, causing immense harm and suffering to innocent civilians? Should the values of human dignity and life be extended to these individuals, or should Israel make exceptions for those who commit horrific acts of terror?
Second, does treating terrorists in Israeli hospitals inadvertently support their cause? In many cases, terrorists receive top-tier medical care, often saving their lives, only for them to return to their extremist and murderous activities once they recover. If Israel refused to treat them, this might perhaps deter the terrorists from their acts of terrorism.
Lastly, providing health care to terrorists sends a troubling message of moral equivalence between the victims of terrorism and the perpetrators. Treating an enemy terrorist alongside a civilian must be seen as deeply problematic, especially when limited resources are available. Ultimately, this undermines Israel’s security interests and weakens public trust in the ethical use of medical resources. It also raises significant questions about the values guiding such decisions.
While health care should ideally be impartial and a medical professional has a duty to save lives, society must ensure that those who inflict harm are held accountable. There must be a limit to compassion when it comes to those who commit acts of violence and state that they are determined to continue doing so. It is high time to draw a clear line and refuse to treat terrorists bent on its destruction. Israel should re-evaluate its policies on this issue, and begin to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens ahead of the terrorists who seek to annihilate the Jewish people and the Jewish state.
{Reposted from JNS}
