British health body criticized by more than 2,000 doctors for pro-Israel statement

BIRMINGHAM, England

In a petition launched on Monday, more than 2,000 British healthcare professionals rejected a recent pro-Israel statement made by the Department of Health and Social Care.

In its statement on Friday, the ministry – responsible for health and care policies – said: “We fly the flag of Israel at the Department of Health and Social Care in London. We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel.

The petition condemns the statement, calling it “an explicit unilateral expression of solidarity and failure to recognize the loss of Palestinian lives at the hands of the State of Israel.”

Citing UN experts’ findings that Israel’s actions against Palestinians in Gaza violate international humanitarian law and “constitute war crimes,” medical professionals said the decision to raise the Israeli flag in front of the department’s headquarters shows blatant disregard for violations of international law and Palestinian health crises. in Gaza are suffering.

“As British healthcare professionals and employees of the UK National Health Service (NHS), we declare that this is completely unacceptable. »

Regarding Israel’s cutting off access to clean water, food and energy for the people of Gaza, the signatories said these “war crimes” also made it more difficult for hospitals in treating victims of Israeli government bombings.

“According to the UN, this means that 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza cannot access essential health services or even clean water, and 5,500 of them are due to give birth in the coming month. »

Authorities in Gaza have so far confirmed the deaths of 11 doctors, 10 paramedics, 14 nurses, 4 dentists and two medical students, and these numbers are expected to rise.

Israel ordered the evacuation of 22 hospitals in Gaza, an act the World Health Organization called a “death sentence for the sick and wounded.”

In a list of demands, medical professionals called on the department to withdraw its statement and remove the Israeli flag from its building in London “in light of violations of international law”.

The department has also been called upon to recognize and condemn war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.

The health body was asked to make efforts to support Palestinian health services through donations and sharing of resources and equipment.

The petitioners called on the British Medical Association, the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, all the Royal Colleges of England, Wales, Scotland and the North Island and all concerned health organizations to “denounce the position adopted by the DHSC”. by supporting a state that clearly commits inhumane war crimes and acts of genocide.

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