The United Nations has condemned the attack on Al-Jalaa Hospital for Women and Childbirth in Tripoli, by “militias.”

UNSMIL said in a statement on Tuesday that the attackers shot one doctor and threatened the safety and security of the medical staff at the hospital, resulting in a three-day halt of all non-emergency medical services.

UNSMIL also remarked that persistent violence against medical facilities, including shelling and bombing of hospitals, attacking and intimidating medical staff, looting of medicine, equipment and ambulances, and clashes inside hospitals – all committed with impunity by armed groups - must stop immediately.

“The health system of Libya is already under-resourced and overstretched, these attacks are costing lives of innocent patients and staff alike.” The statement reads.

The UN mission expressed its solidarity with the staff at Al-Jalaa Hospital and medical personnel across Libya.

“The UN warns the perpetrators that attacks against medical facilities and health care providers are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law and that those responsible must be brought to justice for what may amount to war crimes, under the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court.” UNSMIL underscored.

Medical staff and other employees at Al-Jalaa hospital announced in a sit-in Sunday a total strike in solidarity with a doctor who was shot and had his leg broken.

Sources from the hospital said the doctor tried to calm angry gunmen who stormed into the hospital protesting the death of a woman who was doing a birth surgery but died by a medical fault.

The doctor who did the birth surgery for the women forgot a medical gauze inside the woman and led later to her death.