In response to reports by the Palestinian Ministry of Health that the attack on Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds of civilians, the following quote can be attributed Sam Zarifi, JD, LLMexecutive director of Doctor for Human Rights (PHR):
“The attack on Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital is one of the deadliest disasters attacks on health care over any conflict in the world in recent years. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) calls for immediate, unconditional protection of all patients, health workers and medical facilities in Gaza and Israel and continue our calls calls on all parties to comply with international law.
“Healthcare workers and healthcare institutions are not targets. According to international law, hospitals are protected places. All parties must protect civilians, including all health facilities, workers and infrastructure. The atrocities of one side never justify the crimes of the other.
“We call for an impartial, independent international investigation into the strike at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital. The perpetrators must be held accountable for this serious violation of international law.”
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass crimes and grave human rights violations. Find out more here.
Media contact. Kevin Short. Deputy Director, Media and Communications. media@phr.org
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