Condemnation of Attacks on Hospitals and Medical Facilities in Gaza

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Members of the Austrian Government, the European Commission, the World Medical Association, and other relevant medical and international legal organizations,

We, the undersigned, urgently call your attention to the systematic attacks on hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza by the Israeli military. These actions constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and threaten the very foundation of humanity that these institutions are designed to protect.

Devastating Reports and Alarming Facts:

Recent reports, including “Gaza: Life in the Death Trap“ by Doctors Without Borders and a UN Human Rights Office report dated December 31, 2024, highlight the catastrophic impact of repeated attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza. These findings reveal that:

• Over half of Gaza’s hospitals have been destroyed or rendered non-functional.
• More than 350 patients, including women recovering from surgeries and newborns, are trapped in besieged hospitals without access to essential care.
• Repeated attacks on medical staff and facilities, including arbitrary killings and detentions of doctors, underscore the humanitarian crisis’ devastating scale.

These systematic assaults not only jeopardize the physical and mental well-being of Gaza’s population but also blatantly violate international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions.

Responsibility of the International Community:

The international community has a moral and legal obligation to uphold humanitarian law. The deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities and the blockade of humanitarian aid must be unequivocally condemned as severe violations. Inaction in such a critical situation risk being perceived as tacit complicity in these crimes.

We urgently appeal to you to:

1. Unequivocally condemn the attacks on hospitals and medical facilities.
2. Initiate international investigations to hold the perpetrators accountable.
3. Ensure unhindered access to humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza.
4. Demand and enforce an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

Solidarity with the WHO Chief and UN Special Rapporteur:

We urge the global public to stand in solidarity with the WHO Director-General and the UN Special Rapporteur in calling for an immediate cessation of violence and comprehensive humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. Protecting medical facilities is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative that symbolizes our shared humanity.

Final Remarks:

The current situation underscores the urgent need for the international community, governmental representatives, and the global medical community to take their humanitarian responsibilities seriously. Immediate action is essential to ensure the survival of Gaza’s people and to defend the principles of justice and humanity that underpin global order.

We strongly recommend timely measures as the world watches closely, and your decisions will profoundly impact the fate of countless innocent lives.

With urgency and hope for your swift response,

Vienna, 01.01.2025

Dr. Behrouz Bayat
Komitee zur Verteidigung der Menschenrechte im Iran, Österreich

Prof. Dr. Siroos Mirzaei
Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran – Austria