Fact Check: Khamenei's orders to attack hospitals labeled 'criminal' by Israel.

Fact Check: Khamenei's Orders to Attack Hospitals Labeled 'Criminal' by Israel

What We Know

The claim that "Khamenei's orders to attack hospitals labeled 'criminal' by Israel" stems from recent military escalations between Iran and Israel. Following a missile strike that hit a hospital in Beersheba, Israel's officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, condemned the attack, labeling it as "criminal" and directly attributing responsibility to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Katz stated that Khamenei "personally gives the order to fire on hospitals" (source-2, source-5).

Iran, on the other hand, claimed that its missile strike was aimed at a military site near the hospital and not the hospital itself (source-2). The conflict has escalated since Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, which reportedly killed several Iranian military leaders (source-4).

Analysis

The assertion that Khamenei ordered attacks on hospitals is rooted in the rhetoric of Israeli officials who have characterized Iranian military actions as deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure. While Katz's statement suggests a direct order from Khamenei to target hospitals, it is crucial to note that such claims often reflect the intense political and military rhetoric that accompanies conflicts. The Israeli government has a vested interest in portraying Iran's actions in the most negative light possible, especially given the ongoing hostilities (source-5, source-7).

On the Iranian side, the claim that the missile strike was aimed at a military target rather than the hospital itself is consistent with their narrative of self-defense against Israeli aggression. This divergence in narratives complicates the verification of Khamenei's direct involvement in ordering attacks on civilian targets. The reliability of the sources reporting on this matter varies; Israeli government statements are often politically motivated, while Iranian state media may downplay the implications of their military actions (source-4, source-6).

Conclusion

The claim that Khamenei ordered attacks on hospitals is Partially True. While Israeli officials have labeled the attacks as "criminal" and implicated Khamenei directly, the context of military conflict and the nature of political rhetoric must be considered. The Iranian response suggests a different narrative, focusing on military targets rather than civilian ones. Therefore, while there is a basis for the claim, the full truth is obscured by the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the motivations of the involved parties.