In an extraordinary session held via video conference, the Council of Arab Health Ministers issued a stern warning about the dire humanitarian and health consequences unfolding in the Gaza Strip. The council expressed grave concern over the relentless attacks on civilians, medical facilities, and residential areas, emphasizing the urgent need to halt this devastating conflict.
The council’s statement highlights the continued imposition of severe restrictions on essential resources in the Gaza Strip, including water, medicine, electricity, and fuel. These restrictions have resulted in a staggering loss of civilian lives, a situation that demands immediate attention and intervention.
With more than 8,720 lives lost and over 22,000 wounded, a majority of whom are innocent children, women, and the elderly, the statement denounces the ongoing war crimes and brutal atrocities taking place in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, it underscores the destruction of vital infrastructure, including 177,781 housing units, and the plight of numerous missing persons.
The council fervently calls on the international community to take swift action in ending these brutal assaults. It urges the establishment of secure and sustainable humanitarian corridors to facilitate the flow of critical aid, thereby alleviating the immense suffering of the Palestinian people. The statement unequivocally emphasizes the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law and putting an end to double standards and undue pressure.
Furthermore, the occupying force is implored to lift the suffocating blockade on the Gaza Strip, ensuring the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, medical facilities, as well as places of worship. Urgent measures are required to guarantee the immediate delivery of fuel to hospitals, health centers, and ambulances.
The statement commends the extraordinary resilience displayed by medical teams in the Gaza Strip, who are operating under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. It solidly stands in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their ancestral land, while cautioning against any attempts to displace them from it.
