The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) strongly condemns the assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital, following relentless bombardment and the systematic targeting of healthcare workers and facilities in Gaza by the IDF.

Forcing patients and medical staff to evacuate under threat, depriving them of dignity and essential care, and setting the hospital ablaze are blatant violations of international humanitarian law and medical neutrality. The destruction of Gaza’s last functioning hospital in the north deepens an already devastating health crisis, leaving countless Palestinians without access to life-saving care.

The targeted destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and the killing and detention of Palestinian healthcare workers are met with alarming apathy and silence from our institutions. For months there has not only been a muted response to the destruction, we have also seen the harassment and silencing of UK healthcare workers advocating for Palestinian rights and those who are demanding accountability for war crimes and acts of genocide. These double standards highlight a troubling indifference to justice, whether in conflict zones or in public discourse.

The UK medical community must urgently challenge this apathy. We call on healthcare institutions, professional bodies, and the UK government to uphold the principles of humanitarian law and medical ethics. This includes demanding the protection of healthcare workers, actively supporting a ceasefire, and ensuring accountability for war crimes. Immediate action must also be taken to secure the release of detained medical staff, including Kamal Adwan Hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, whose 8-year-old son was killed in an earlier Israeli attack.

Justice for Gaza’s healthcare workers demands action, not silence. We must stand together in defence of humanity and the values we hold as healthcare professionals.