Israel and Gaza: the killing of civilians must stop.

The shocking and inhumane attack on Oct 7, 2023, by Hamas against Israeli civilians, resulted in the loss of at least 1400 lives with a further 240 hostages, of whom 33 are children.1Vinograd C Kershner I Israel's attackers took over 200 hostages. Here's what to know about them. The New York Times, Nov 2, 2023https://www.nytimes.com/article/israel-hostages-hamas-explained.htmlDate accessed: November 2, 2023Google Scholar This act of terror spurred the ongoing Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip (or Gaza). We stress our unreserved condemnation of all forms of violence targeting any segment of the civilian population, irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion. Approximately 2·3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children, live in Gaza. After the attack on Oct 7, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) sealed Gaza off from essential resources, such as water, electricity, and fuel. Following pressure from the UN, some 20 trucks with essential medical aid have entered through the Rafah border, but this is still far from sufficient to address the severe humanitarian crisis.2Al-Mughrabi N Lewis A First aid convoy enters Gaza Strip from Egypt. Reuters, Oct 21, 2023https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trucks-enter-gaza-carrying-medical-supplies-food-hamas-2023-10-21/Date accessed: October 23, 2023Google Scholar Furthermore, the IDF has barred journalists and humanitarian organisations from Gaza, blocked telecom and internet services, and expanded their ground operations in northern Gaza. Reports have emerged of strikes on UN schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure, and ambulances.3UNGaza: UN experts decry bombing of hospitals and schools as crimes against humanity, call for prevention of genocide.https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/gaza-un-experts-decry-bombing-hospitals-and-schools-crimes-against-humanityDate: Oct 19, 2023Date accessed: November 8, 2023Google Scholar On Oct 31, 2023, Jabalia camp, a large refugee camp in Gaza, was bombed by the IDF.4Carroll R Dozens killed after Israeli airstrikes on Gaza refugee camp. The Guardian, Oct 31, 2023https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/31/dozens-killed-after-israeli-airstrikes-on-gaza-refugee-campDate accessed: November 1, 2023Google Scholar According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, bombardments have killed more than 10 000 Palestinians, including more than 4 000 children.5CNN staffMore than 10,000 killed in Gaza, Hamas-controlled health ministry says, as condemnation of Israel's campaign grows. CNN, Nov 6, 2023https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/06/middleeast/gaza-10k-deaths-intl/index.htmlDate accessed: November 6, 2023Google Scholar Every 10 minutes a Palestinian child is killed. Subjecting the citizens of Gaza to collective punishment constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and is expressly prohibited by international treaties, including Common Article 33 of the Geneva Conventions.6International Committee of the Red CrossArticle 33—individual responsibility, collective penalties, pillage, reprisals.https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949/article-33Date accessed: October 20, 2023Google Scholar The UN General Assembly passed a resolution on Oct 27, 2023, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza.7UNUN General Assembly adopts Gaza resolution calling for immediate and sustained “humanitarian truce”.https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142847Date: Oct 26, 2023Date accessed: October 28, 2023Google Scholar The resolution also demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” delivery of life-saving supplies and services for the civilian population confined within the Gaza Strip.7UNUN General Assembly adopts Gaza resolution calling for immediate and sustained “humanitarian truce”.https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142847Date: Oct 26, 2023Date accessed: October 28, 2023Google Scholar Although 120 Member States voted in favour of this resolution, the blockade and aggressive military operations continue, with no prospect of a ceasefire from Israel. Through this Correspondence, we, as physicians and individuals from diverse countries and backgrounds, implore our colleagues around the world and the international medical community to raise their voices and condemn all and any violence against civilians. We implore the recognition of and wide protest against the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and urge the Israeli Government to cease the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and to open its borders to humanitarian organisations for assistance. We also appeal to the Hamas group to stop targeting the Israeli civilian population and to unconditionally release all hostages. We call on our colleagues to exert pressure on their respective governments to make every effort to prevent further military aggression towards innocent people. We declare no competing interests. This Correspondence has been co-signed by 21 physicians (appendix pp 1–2). Editorial note: The Lancet Group takes a neutral position with respect to territorial claims in published text and institutional affiliations. Download .pdf (.15 MB) Help with pdf files Supplementary appendix