Amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, grave violations continue against medical staff, who represent a vital pillar in the humanitarian response to emergencies.
Medical sources have revealed that 360 health workers, including specialist doctors, have been arrested by Israeli occupation forces, in a flagrant breach of the most basic humanitarian principles and international conventions protecting medical personnel during conflicts.
The targeting of healthcare workers is among the gravest forms of violations, posing a direct threat to the right to life and health, not only for the workers themselves, but also for thousands of patients and wounded people deprived of essential care due to the detention of these professionals.
According to testimonies collected by legal groups advocating for detainees, imprisoned healthcare staff endure harsh conditions, including denial of medical care, ill-treatment, and even physical and psychological torture during interrogations.
The case of Dr Hossam Abu Safiya, detained since 27 December, stands as a stark example. His lawyer has confirmed that he is subjected to continuous beatings and denied medical care despite his deteriorating condition.
These violations constitute a serious setback to the spirit of international humanitarian law, which clearly stipulates the protection of healthcare workers and prohibits any harm or obstruction to their humanitarian role. They also highlight the grave risk of sliding into practices resembling collective punishment, which are classified as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions.
With the worsening health crisis in Gaza and the growing number of wounded and injured, the immediate release of detained medical personnel and the provision of protection for them has become an urgent necessity.
The ongoing international silence in the face of these violations, and the absence of independent and transparent investigations into the fate of detained medical workers, reflects a failure to uphold the moral and legal obligations required of the international community.
