In the context of widespread and ongoing violence against the Palestinian people, we express our horror at the killing, disablement, targeting and abduction of healthcare workers across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Over the past nine weeks, healthcare workers in Gaza have endured increasingly horrific conditions whilst caring for their patients. They have had to work under conditions that are unimaginable to many, lacking the basic necessities of food, water, medicines, medical equipment, and electricity. Israel’s near-total blockade of Gaza has rendered staff unable to adequately treat the tens of thousands of people injured by the incessant bombardment. They have seen countless patients die, some in their hospital beds. Many of these patients could have been saved. They have received their injured and killed family members whilst at work. They have not even been able to bury the dead with dignity.

Civilians, patients, medical personnel, and healthcare infrastructure have protected status under international humanitarian law and should never be attacked under any circumstance. 

The World Health Organization has documented a staggering 203 attacks on healthcare in Gaza between October 7th and November 28th 2023, with 560 people killed as a result. Healthcare workers and their families have been targeted and killed whilst working in hospitals, in the streets, and in their homes after working non stop for many days and nights. Of the 278 healthcare workers known to have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 22 were killed while at work.

In the past four weeks there have been additional, extremely alarming developments. Since November 18th, 116 Palestinian healthcare workers* have been abducted and illegally detained by Israeli forces. Only six have since been released. Many of the Gazan abductions occurred as the healthcare workers travelled south along a designated ‘safe route’. The families of the abducted healthcare workers are not even aware of their current whereabouts, or whether they are alive. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also been unable to provide any such information thus far. The abduction of Palestinian healthcare workers by the Israeli army is hugely disturbing and demands immediate investigation and action. 

We call on the governments of the USA, UK, and all member states of the UN to engage their full diplomatic and political influence to ensure:

1. The immediate release of the abducted healthcare workers
2. The end of the practice of arbitrary abduction and detention of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank
3. An immediate end to all forms of violence against the Palestinian people, including patients and healthcare workers

*The abducted healthcare workers include: Physicians: Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, Dr. Akram Hussein, Dr. Akram Abo Odeh, Dr. Iyad Abed, Dr. Muneer Al-shakhrit, Dr. Yousef Barakat, Dr. Saleh Eleiwa, Dr. Mohammed Abu AlJubain, Dr. Ahmed Abu Aita, Dr. Saeed Abu-Eljidian, Dr. Iyad AlRantisi, Dr. Hossam Jouda, Dr. Ahmed AlKahlout, Dr. Wadee Qasem, Dr. Khaled Hamouda, Dr. Farouq Ashour, Dr. Mohammed Awadat, Dr. Alaa Shalaldeh. Nurses: Mr. Younis Al-Hamalawi, Mr. Ahmed Abu Riala, Mr. Abdallah Al-Rantisi, Mr. Abdallah Saadat, Mr. Anwar Abu Dalal, Mr. Mohammed Albess, Mr. Anas Alshaikh. Paramedics: Mr. Awni Khattab, Mr Anees Al-Astal, Mr. Alaa Mu'amar, Mr. Mohammed Al-Nahhal, Mr. Sherif Al-Bayouk, Mr. Mohammed Al-Kurd,  Mr. Mohammed Abu Samak, Mr. Hamdan Ennaba, Mr. AbdelKarim Abu Ghali. Technicians: Mr. Ahmed AlSherif, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Nairab, Mr. Abdelfattah Abu Sada, Mr. Alaa Al-Ghafir. Administrative Staff: Mr. Samer Shaat, Mr. Nabeel Mohanna Dentist: Dr. Momin Abu Khudair. Optometrist: Mr. Yousef AlBoraey. Student: Ms Baraa Karama. Work is currently underway to confirm the names of 67 healthcare workers who were abducted from Kamal Adwan Hospital on 12/12/23. For an up-to-date list of names and numbers, follow Healthcare Workers Watch - Palestine on social media.