The Lancet has published a forceful paper highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza on health care and calling for a decisive response from the global medical community. The article describes the situation as a “healthocide” and urges medical societies worldwide not to remain silent in the face of systematic attacks on health-care facilities and personnel.
Gaza’s Health Crisis: A Call for Medical Solidarity
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become catastrophic, with hospitals under siege and medical professionals forced to work without basic supplies, power, or safety. International agencies report at least 772 attacks on health care, 94 hospitals damaged or destroyed, and over 1,500 health-care workers killed—the highest toll ever recorded in a single conflict. While claims have been made about combatants using hospitals as shields, independent investigations have found no evidence to support this, and, regardless, such acts could never justify systematic attacks on the health-care system.
Silence from Medical Societies
Most medical and surgical societies worldwide have either remained silent or issued only vague statements regarding Gaza’s health crisis. This stands in stark contrast to previous global conflicts, when medical organizations mobilized resources and offered clear expressions of support. Notably, a recent analysis found that only 2% of U.S. specialty medical societies publicly commented on the Gaza conflict—far fewer than in past humanitarian emergencies.
The Principle of Medical Neutrality
The paper insists that medical neutrality, a core tenet of international humanitarian law, obliges health professionals not just to provide impartial care, but also to condemn violations wherever they occur. The value of human life, the authors argue, must never depend on nationality, religion, or politics. Both Israeli and Palestinian physicians treated victims during the October 7, 2023 tragedy, demonstrating health care’s potential to bridge divides, even amid intense conflict.
Moral and Ethical Duty
The authors urge medical societies to speak out unambiguously, support all victims, denounce attacks on medical personnel and infrastructure, and do everything possible to ensure care reaches those in need. They argue that remaining silent in the name of neutrality is in effect complicity in the face of injustice. The editorial calls for action to support both Palestinian and Israeli physicians working to change the situation from within and emphasizes that medicine is “more than science—it is a moral duty.”
Endorsements and Contributions
This paper is officially endorsed by the European Digestive Surgery Society and seven surgeons from Gaza, emphasizing the seriousness and broad support for its message within the international medical community. The authors represent a broad consortium of institutions in Europe, Australia, Palestine, and Israel, collectively appealing for solidarity and a renewed commitment to medical ethics in times of crisis.
The Lancet paper concludes with a stark warning: future generations will judge whether the global medical community stood up to defend life or chose to look away. The message is clear—the silence of the world’s medical societies in the face of attacks on health care in Gaza constitutes a betrayal of the most fundamental values of medicine.
