The Palestinian Doctors’ Rally launched today, Saturday, Brussels to protect the health system in Gaza, in a statement of Al -Jazeera Net today, Saturday.
The statement published on the “Cheng Dot Org” website: We doctors and health workers, as well as representatives of health unions, medical associations and institutions from around the world, export the “Brussels Declaration” to the international community.
He continued, “This declaration stems from our moral and professional duty in facing the systematic attacks on the health sector in Gaza, which threatens human life directly and constitutes great violations of international humanitarian law.”
First: the basic principles
The attacks on hospitals, health facilities, medical workers, and the prevention of medicines and supplies are fundamental violations of medical ethics and humanitarian law. Gaza is a blatant example of depriving the right to health during the armed conflict, which requires urgent international moves to protect human and legal standards. Protect medical cadres, ambulance services, mobile surgical units, and educational hospitals, a binding international human duty. Unrestricted access to medications and basic equipment – including breathing devices, oxygen and surgical supplies – is an indispensable thing to save lives.
Second: The violated international legal framework
The Fourth Geneva Convention (1949 Article 18): Protection is guaranteed for hospitals and medical cadres. The first additional protocol (1977): It prohibits attacks on medical units and confirms the immunity of health workers. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): They confirm the right to health without discrimination. Agreement to prevent genocide (1948) and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998): They know the targeting of civilians and medical facilities as war crimes. The orders of the International Court of Justice (2024-2025): It is imposed allowing the arrival of humanitarian aid to Gaza without obstacle, according to the statement.
Continuing violations has an individual criminal responsibility for everyone who targets medical facilities or hinders access to health care.
Third: The current health and humanitarian situation
The destruction of hospitals, the arbitrary detention of medical cadres and the severe shortage of medicines has led to a worsening health disaster. Children, the elderly and people with disabilities are the most affected. The disruption of medical supply chains threatens to provide urgent, surgical and long -term care. Health workers are working in harsh conditions, suffering from fatigue, shock and constant danger to their lives.
Fourth: Call of Brussels Declaration
The statement demanded that:
- The immediate endowment of all attacks on hospitals, health facilities and medical personnel.
- The release of all detained health workers.
- Remove all obstacles to the entry of medication, equipment and basic supplies.
- Providing effective and independent protection for medical personnel, including ambulance services, mobile surgical units and educational hospitals.
- Providing urgent international assistance to rebuild destructive health facilities.
- An independent international investigation has been opened to ensure accountability for grave violations. Maintaining basic health services and mental health services and enhancing them for all population, while giving priority to the most vulnerable groups.
- Continuous international follow -up and control over medical supply chains to ensure the delivery of medications and vital equipment in a timely manner.
Fifth: The global call
The attacks on the health system in Gaza are not a local or regional issue, but rather a global humanitarian issue that affects the essence of the right to life and human dignity. We call on medical institutions, professional unions, health workers, civil society organizations, and journalists around the world to support and sign a “Brussels Declaration”, in confirmation of our unified humanitarian position and a refusal to target health care in any armed conflict. Protection of hospitals, doctors and patients is a global humanitarian duty. Any attack on them is an attack on humanity.