‘Israel’s attacks lead to humanitarian disaster’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) addressed letters to Dr. David Barbe, the President of the World Medical Association (WMA); Dr. Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the President of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME); Dr. Zion HAGAI, the President of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), regarding the recent and ongoing attacks of Israel to Palestine.

Raising concerns over the humanitarian tragedy caused by the attacks, the letters emphasized that the TTB "has great concerns about the violations of the right of life and access to healthcare of Palestinian people."

"Besides, these attacks that target hospitals, other healthcare institutions and ambulances also violate the international humanitarian principles which guarantee the protection of healthcare under conflicts."

The letters appealed to the World Medical Association, Standing Committee of European Doctors and Israeli Medical Association to request the international community to stop the attacks on the civilian population in Gaza and to protect access to healthcare.

Shared with the public with a press statement titled "Israel's attacks lead to humanitarian disaster" and signed by TTB Central Council Chair Prof. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, the letters read as follows:

'We believe we should take responsibility'

"We would like to state that we are deeply concerned about the attacks of Israel against Palestine, whose violence continues to escalate.

"Unfortunately, while the news of the deaths of civilians, women and children is increasing day by day, we witness with great regret that healthcare institutions and healthcare workers have become the target of ongoing attacks under pandemic conditions.

"We have never lost our hope and belief for the people in the Middle East and Turkey can live together in peace and calm. However, the indispensable criterion for this hope to come true is, of course, the cessation of armed conflicts. We believe that we, who are members of a profession whose priority is the right to life, should take responsibility with the awareness that we are going through the days when we need to express this call most powerfully due to the accompanying pandemic, and we expect the international health community to take a stance in the Middle East and all over the world to stop wars and conflicts and prioritize the right to life.

"In addition, we would like to emphasize that in any extraordinary situations including conflicts, the requirement to guarantee access to healthcare, which is secured by international conventions and protected by the World Medical Association's 'Healthcare in Danger' conceptual framework, has been violated by the ongoing attacks.

"We would like to declare that the Turkish Medical Association is ready to give any support we may have on this subject." 

The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip on Sunday rose to 197, including 58 children and 34 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The number of injured has reached 1,235, while tens of buildings were destroyed or damaged.

(RT/SD)