As Australian health care workers, we urge you to address the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. We are proud to work in a health care system that serves people from different backgrounds. We are grateful for leaders who support us in upholding the medical ethical principles of non-maleficence (not harm) and beneficence.

Catastrophic health events affect the entire spectrum of health care, from the influx of emergency cases to the disruption of acute and chronic health care services. They also inflict long-term, far-reaching effects in the form of trauma and disability.

Many thousands of Gazan civilians have killed and wounded since hostilities began in the Middle East on October 7 2023.

26/35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged and unable to function.  The remaining healthcare facilities are operating with minimal staff, electricity, supplies, clean water and food, and are grossly overcrowded.  

Many Gazans have injuries that would be survivable under usual circumstances but are not able to receive appropriate medical care currently.  They cannot get out of Gaza. At the same time, Gazan civilians with visas to Australia and other countries have also been unable to leave, and are at great risk of death or severe injury.

We call on the Australian government to:

• Work with Egypt, Israel and the U.S. and strongly push for the Rafah crossing to open and allow medical evacuations of the injured and visa holders to leave.
• Support safe passage plus refugee status for any Palestinian families who wish to leave.  We do not support the forced migration of the Palestinian population but acknowledge the significant risk of death due to ongoing bombing and violence.
• Pressure for a permanent ceasefire must also continue as an immediate priority.  

Australia has a world class healthcare system and capacity to assist the wounded. We are over 800 doctors who will offer our services to assist in facilitating this.  We have a responsibility to recognise and accept refugees and are signatory to the Refugees Convention.  We, as a country, can provide some relief to the ongoing severe humanitarian emergency that is evolving in Gaza. 

Australian and New Zealand Doctors for Palestine