BIMA members contributed to a new article, Safeguarding Healthcare Workers in Gaza and Throughout Occupied Palestine, published in BMJ Global Health this week. The article highlights the violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) through attacks on healthcare workers (HCWs) and humanitarian staff in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel’s deliberate targeting of medical personnel and infrastructure has caused the collapse of the Palestinian healthcare system, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Despite provisional measures from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling for the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian aid, the situation continues to deteriorate, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and essential services destroyed.

The lack of enforceable protections fuels impunity and worsens health outcomes for Palestinians and governments must be held to account for their failure to uphold IHL. BIMA reiterates the urgent need for legal and medical institutions to take definitive action in safeguarding HCWs and upholding healthcare and human rights. Systematic attacks on healthcare workers, combined with the destruction of medical infrastructure, not only constitute potential acts of genocide but also set a dangerous precedent for the erosion of humanitarian norms in conflict zones worldwide.

Read the full article here: Safeguarding healthcare workers in Gaza and throughout occupied Palestine | BMJ Global Health