30th Dec 2024: HXR email to David Lammy MP in response to the devastating Israeli attacks on hospitals and health workers in Gaza

Posted by: Hils - Posted on:

Dear Mr Lammy,

We are writing to express our ongoing and escalating alarm at  the deliberate targeting by the Israeli government of health facilities and health workers in besieged Gaza. This is a clear breach of the Geneva convention and of international  humanitarian law, as well as a flagrant disregard for accepted international human rights norms.1

The recent siege and destruction of the Kamal Adwan hospital, the last semi-functional hospital in Northern Gaza which served 50,000 Palestinians, 20,000 of whom are under the age of 10, has left the population in the area without healthcare provision as the Israeli attacks continue unabated.2

The hospital’s destruction is the latest in a catastrophic and inhumane assault on healthcare provision in Gaza, which has already seen at least 595 of its health workers killed, 300 more detained,3, 4 the complete  destruction of  more than half of the regions health facilities and severe impairment to the functioning of the remainder.5 This destruction is occurring even as 90% of the population (1.9 million people) have been displaced6, and the UN reports a stark increase in families experiencing severe hunger, Israeli blockades on aid to the North of Gaza, and continued civilian casualties from the Israeli siege.7

Not only is the destruction of the Gazan healthcare system by Israeli forces, along with all other essential Gazan infrastructure, a further attack on the Gazan population who now have no or very limited access to medical care8,9,10,  but the treatment of health workers also reflects the extreme contempt that the Israeli government has shown for international humanitarian laws and ethical values.11

Shockingly, there are numerous examples of brave and hardworking health staff being assassinated12, abducted and tortured after being herded like animals without charge into Israeli detention facilities.3,13 These are abhorrent acts, conducted in breach of international law and must be named and condemned by the international community.

Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister have both had warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity”14 and Israel’s actions have been widely condemned by international actors15 including by the United Nations Human Rights council.16,17 The World Health Organisation, along with 14 other UN and humanitarian agencies has issued an urgent call for a lasting ceasefire and demanded that health workers be protected as per international humanitarian law.18,19 

As health workers, we are appalled that our government continues to show support for the Israeli government despite its dehumanising treatment of the Gazan population and its clear targeting of healthcare infrastructure and personnel. 

It is beyond our comprehension, and deeply shaming to us that our government has not unequivocally condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, ended all arms sales and other support for the Israeli military, and demanded an immediate and unconditional end to its onslaught in Gaza. 

In addition, the long and illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian territories and its persecution of the Palestinian people has rightly been called an Apartheid state by among others,  both former President Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu20. We share your admiration for both these men, and note what you said in 2021 when Tutu died: “His integrity, passion and urgency were integral in mobilising South Africans to protest, resist and keep the faith while rallying the global community to compassion, solidarity and sanctions”21 .

We call on you to emulate his example,and respond, as the UK previously did in the case of South Africa22, with an arms and trade embargo against the state of Israel, coupled with the recognition of a Palestinian state. 

We look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerley,

Dr Lynne Jones OBE, Child and adolescent psychiatrist, relief worker, writer and honorary associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,

Prof Hillary Neve, National Teaching Fellow, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and General Practitioner,

Dr Rammina Yassaie, Doctor, Medical Ethicist and Senior Lecturer in leadership for health and social care at Sheffield Hallam University

Dr Marion Neffgen, Medical Psychotherapist

Dr Christelle Blunden, General Practitioner

Miss Alice Clack, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

On behalf of Health for Extinction Rebellion 

Contact: Contact@healthforxr.com

Website: Healthforxr.com 

References:

  1. MSF, 2024: The destruction of hospitals and other vital infrastructure is compounding the health crisis: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/how-year-war-has-devastated-gazas-civilian-infrastructure
  2. WHO. 2024: Kamal Adwan Hospital out of service following a raid yesterday and repeated attacks since October: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-12-2024-kamal-adwan-hospital-out-of-service-following-a-raid-today-and-repeated-attacks-since-october#:~:text=WHO%20is%20appalled%20by%20yesterday’s,in%20the%20area%20at%20risk
  3. Healthcare Workers Watch, 2024: The killing, detention, and torture of healthcare workers in Gaza, Snapshot: https://healthcareworkerswatch.org/
  4. Middle East Eye: Nearly 1,000 Palestinian health workers killed by Israeli forces in Gaza named: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/nearly-1000-palestinian-health-workers-killed-israeli-forces-gaza-named
  5. MSF, 2024: How a year of war has devastated Gaza’s civilian infrastructure: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/how-year-war-has-devastated-gazas-civilian-infrastructure
  6. UNRWA, 2024: Situation Report 141 on the situation in the West Bank and the Gaza strip including Jerusalem: https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-141-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem
  7. OCHA, 2024: Humanitarian Situation Update 239 Gaza Strip: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/humanitarian-situation-update-239-gaza-strip#:~:text=Humanitarian%20operations%20across%20Gaza%20have,exacerbating%20already%20dire%20humanitarian%20conditions
  8. British Red Cross, 2024: Broken healthcare and disease could kill more than conflict: https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/disasters-and-emergencies/world/plunging-temperatures-broken-healthcare-and-disease-in-gaza
  9. MSF, 2024:  Gaz’s silent killings: New MSF report denounces destruction of health care system: https://msf.org.uk/article/gazas-silent-killings-new-msf-report-denounces-destruction-healthcare-system
  10. Middle East Eye, 2024: Israeli forces arrest Gaza hospital chief after “burning doctors and patients alive”: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-forces-arrest-gaza-hospital-chief-after-burning-doctors-and-patients-alive
  11. UN, 2024: UN commission finds war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israeli attackes on GAzan health facilitites and treatment of detainees/hostages: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/10/un-commission-finds-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-israeli-attacks
  12. Middle East Eye, 2024: Last remaining orthopaedic doctor in North Gaza killed by Israeli quadcopter:https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241212-last-remaining-orthopaedic-doctor-in-north-gaza-killed-by-israel-quadcopter/
  13. Sky News, 2024: “He was the light of my life and I lost him”: How a famous surgeon died in an Israeli prison after being taken from Gazan hospital: https://news.sky.com/story/he-was-the-light-of-my-life-and-i-lost-him-how-a-famous-surgeon-died-in-an-israeli-prison-after-being-taken-from-gaza-hospital-13253157
  14. Amnesty International, 2024: More than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations call to stop arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/more-than-250-humanitarian-and-human-rights-organisations-call-to-stop-arms-transfers-to-israel-palestinian-armed-groups/
  15. BBC, 2024: ICC issues arrest Warrant Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2exvx944o
  16. UN, 2024: The question of Palestine:  https://www.un.org/unispal/document/update-report-08nov24/
  17. UN Watch, 2024: 2024 UNGA resolutions on Israel vs Rest of the World: https://unwatch.org/2024-unga-resolutions-on-israel-vs-rest-of-the-world/
  18. WHO,2024: Statement by Principles of the Inter-Agency standing committee: Stop the assault on Palestinians in Gaza and those trying to help them: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-11-2024-statement-by-principals-of-the-inter-agency-standing-committee—stop-the-assault-on-palestinians-in-gaza-and-on-those-trying-to-help-them
  19. International court of Justice: Summary of the advisory opinion of the 19th July, 2024: https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176
  20. Middle East Eye, 2024: Desmund Tutu: “Israeli apartheid worse than South Africa”: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241007-desmond-tutu-israeli-apartheid-worse-than-south-africa/
  21. The Independent, 2021: Tributes from British leaders to hero of anti-apartheid struggle: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/desmond-tutu-apartheid-archbishop-tributes-b1982490.html
  22. The Commonwealth, 2017: From the Archive: Sanctions agreed against apartheid-era South Africa: https://thecommonwealth.org/news/archive-sanctions-agreed-against-apartheid-era-south-africa