Responding to a question from Rudaw on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, remarked, “It is very disturbing that this kind of attack and this kind of violence could take place in a hospital against healthcare workers.”
He added that the UN has taken note of the Syrian government’s pledge to conduct a full investigation, affirming, “We await the results of that investigation.”
“Those responsible for what is seen on that video need to be held accountable,” Dujarric reiterated.
The video, which has circulated widely online, shows armed men in Syrian security force uniforms inside a hospital corridor, where staff members are kneeling. One of them, Mohammad al-Bahsas - an engineer volunteering as a first responder - is seen being shot at close range, and his body is then dragged away.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Monday that the incident took place at the National hospital in the predominantly Druze Suwayda province on July 16.
Citing a witness, SOHR reported that Bahsas had earlier tried to defuse tensions by clarifying to an officer - who later executed him - that he had no medical training.
“For that, he was executed in cold blood right in front of us,” the witness said.
The war monitor also reported the killing of Wael Azzam, an engineer responsible for the hospital’s surveillance system, who was reportedly killed after refusing to hand over security footage, fearing it could be used to endanger other staff.
SOHR condemned the killings as “horrific violations against unarmed civilians and health workers,” and called for “an immediate and thorough investigation.”
On Monday, Syria’s interior ministry said it was “following up on the distressing footage circulating on social media,” and denounced the killings “in the strongest terms.” The ministry vowed that the perpetrators would be prosecuted, “regardless of their affiliations.”
On calls for an international probe, the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson, told Rudaw on Monday “Things have to be done step by step. The government in Damascus, the interim authorities, have a responsibility to protect all their people, regardless of their religion or ethnicity… Let them do the investigation, as is their responsibility, and let’s see what the results are.”
Meanwhile, Ann Snow, the UK’s Special Representative for Syria, said she was “deeply troubled by the video circulating of civilian killings in the National Hospital in Suwayda from last month.” In a Monday statement on X, she underscored “the need for urgent action to hold perpetrators of all violence to account.”
Deeply troubled by the video circulating of civilian killings in the National Hospital in Suwayda from last month. Reinforces the need for urgent action to hold perpetrators of all violence to account.