Urgent Appeal: Global Action Needed for Health Crisis in Gaza

An urgent call to address the health crisis in Gaza has been issued by over 40 organizations working on health justice globally. In an open letter, these organizations have called upon the global health and human rights community to take immediate action in response to the ongoing Israeli government's onslaught on Gaza, highlighting that the war on Palestine is also an issue of health justice. The devastating impact of Israel's offensive on Gaza cannot be understated. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has suggested that the conditions in Gaza plausibly meet the criteria for genocide, with over 30,000 Palestinians losing their lives in less than five months. The death toll averages 250 Palestinians per day, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in the 21st century. Additionally, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been injured, and over a million have been displaced as a result of the violence. Israel's deliberate targeting of hospitals, a clear violation of international law, has severely crippled Gaza's healthcare system. Only 11 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza are partially functional, exacerbating the already dire situation. The destruction of health facilities, the killing of health workers, and the blockade on medical supplies have left 2.2 million people in Gaza with limited access to healthcare amid constant bombardment and the looming threat of famine. Research by esteemed institutions such as the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has projected a staggering number of excess deaths in Gaza due to war-induced diseases, epidemics, and malnutrition if the conflict escalates further. Even in the current conditions, an alarming number of excess deaths is anticipated over the next six months. The global health community has been urged to speak up and take action against the unfolding health crisis in Gaza. Despite the severity of the situation, there has been a noticeable silence among many health bodies and associations on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. This lack of response highlights the need for a unified and unequivocal condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza and a call for an end to the ongoing genocide. The letter also addresses the double standards and racist dehumanization that has prevented meaningful discourse on the health crisis in Gaza. It calls for accountability and solidarity in standing against the atrocities being committed and supporting those who speak out against anti-Palestinian racism. As health professionals and activists, the duty to advocate for health equity and justice extends to all individuals, including those in conflict zones like Gaza. It is imperative for the global health community to break the silence, condemn the ongoing violence, and support efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Failure to act would be a betrayal of the fundamental right to health for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.