A delegation of American and British doctors has launched a scathing indictment against the Israeli military, accusing it of systematically destroying Gaza's health infrastructure in a purported effort to drive Palestinians out of their homes.
The team, fresh from volunteering at besieged hospitals in Gaza, has descended upon Washington DC, where they aim to convey their harrowing experiences to the Biden administration.
Led by Professor Nick Maynard, a former director for cancer services at Oxford University, the delegation asserts that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are committing "appalling atrocities" by targeting healthcare facilities, personnel, and essential medical equipment. Maynard highlighted the deliberate destruction of infrastructure at hospitals like al-Shifa, raising questions about the true motives behind such actions.
According to United Nations reports, none of Gaza's 36 hospitals are fully functional, with a dozen operating at reduced capacity and others lying in ruins. Recent IDF raids on facilities like al-Shifa have further exacerbated the crisis, with medical staff reporting casualties among Palestinians seeking refuge within hospital walls.
Compounding the dire situation is the targeting and arrest of hundreds of healthcare workers by Israeli forces. Reports of brutal treatment and torture of medical staff during IDF raids have emerged, adding to the already grim reality faced by Gaza's healthcare system.
Maynard and his colleagues argue that the closure and damage to hospitals serve a broader strategy aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homes. By rendering healthcare inaccessible and destroying vital infrastructure, the Israeli military allegedly seeks to coerce local populations into abandoning their communities.
Despite the mounting humanitarian crisis, the Israeli military has denied targeting medical personnel or facilities, instead accusing Hamas of operating within and beneath Gaza's hospitals.
In their meetings with White House officials and senior members of Congress, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, the doctors are pressing for urgent action to address the escalating crisis. They emphasize the need for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the safe distribution of aid and the revival of healthcare services in Gaza.
Dr. Thaer Ahmad, who volunteered in Nasser Hospital's emergency room, underscores the urgency of the situation, stressing that lives hang in the balance amid widespread suffering and deprivation.
The Gaza health ministry estimates a staggering death toll, with thousands of Palestinians, predominantly women and children, killed in the ongoing conflict. With hospitals overwhelmed and basic necessities scarce, countless more Palestinians face severe injuries and the looming threat of starvation due to blocked food supplies.
International condemnation of Israel's actions has grown, with accusations of deliberate starvation and the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war. European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has accused Israel of provoking famine, further intensifying pressure on the Biden administration to intervene.
Dr Zaher Sahloul, president of the medical charity MedGlobal, suggests a shifting tide in US political discourse regarding Israel's actions, fueled by public backlash against Biden's support for the military assault on Gaza.
As the delegation continues its advocacy efforts, fears loom of a potential ground assault by the Israeli military on densely populated areas like Rafah, which could unleash catastrophic consequences for the already devastated population.
The delegation's mission underscores a desperate plea to counter false narratives and shed light on the grim realities faced by civilians in Gaza amidst escalating violence and humanitarian crises.