We, public health professionals in Israel, are shocked and horrified by the destruction of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for 23 months as part of the current war.
This war began as a response to the barbaric massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7th. In this massacre, approximately 1,250 people were killed - civilians and soldiers. About 200 people were kidnapped to Gaza, and 48 of them are still imprisoned there under appalling conditions. The war began for justified reasons and received broad support in Israel and abroad. After nearly two years of war, Hamas has indeed been significantly damaged, but the hostages have not returned. Furthermore, the civilian population of the Gaza Strip is experiencing a multi-dimensional disaster: over 2 million civilians, including infants, children, nursing mothers, and elderly people, have become refugees living in inhuman conditions, with food insecurity, without access to safe drinking water, and without proper sanitation. About 150,000 war wounded remain without medical treatment, infectious diseases are spreading unchecked and threaten the entire region, including Israel, while the death toll exceeds 60,000.
There is no doubt that Hamas is a cruel enemy that cynically uses civilian facilities and constantly exposes Gaza residents to danger. But unfortunately, reports are increasing about systematic damage inflicted by the IDF on health infrastructure, in many cases without any security justification and without the necessary caution and care to protect uninvolved civilians. Attacking hospitals and clinics constitutes a flagrant violation of international law unless there is clear evidence that they are being used as military facilities . The deliberate killing of medical staff and senior doctors in their homes is a war crime.
We condemn the harm to healthcare workers, hospitals, and medical services at all levels. The vulnerable population in Gaza needs, today more than ever, food security and access to medical services. The destruction of Gaza’s health system does not only harm Gaza’s residents—it endangers all of us.
We demand:
• An immediate cessation of fighting
• The immediate return of all Israeli hostages
• An extensive international effort to rehabilitate Gaza and its healthcare system - an effort in which Israel
must be a full partner
As public health professionals in particular and medical professionals in general, we believe in the sanctity of life and our duty to heal. The deliberate destruction of a healthcare system contradicts the most basic values of our profession. We are prepared to dedicate ourselves to rehabilitating Gaza's healthcare system and to fight for peace and a better future in our region.