Medical Aid for Palestinians’ CEO, Stephen Cutts, said;
“This attack on the surgical department at 21.15 on Sunday 23 March, on Nasser Hospital, demonstrates once again that nowhere is safe in Gaza. At least 8 people, including medical staff, were injured in the attack and a 16 year old boy recovering from earlier surgery was killed.
Coming just two days after Israeli forces completely destroyed the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, it is clear that, having broken the ceasefire, Israel has resumed attacks on Palestinian healthcare facilities, thereby endangering the lives of health workers, patients and other civilians. Thankfully, on this occasion, our emergency medical team personnel who were in the hospital at the time of the attack were uninjured. Hospitals must be protected, and healthcare must not be a target.
This latest incident joins a long succession of attacks on Palestinian healthcare. These must be promptly and independently investigated, and any perpetrators held to account. The international community must enforce this, and demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire as the only way to safeguard lives in Gaza.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For media inquiries or interviews, please reply to this email or contact:
Email: press@map.org.uk Phone: +44 (0)203 869 1310
About Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for a future where every Palestinian has access to a comprehensive, effective and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity.
MAP’s local team in Gaza were among the first to respond to the current emergency and remain one of the only international organisations working to provide humanitarian and medical services, including in the north.
Since Israel's military bombardment and complete closure of Gaza began, the health system has all but collapsed. In that time we've delivered some $12 million USD worth of aid to Gaza.
For more information please visit: www.map.org.uk