In a joint statement, national medical associations say hospitals have been repeatedly attacked and subjected to air strikes. At least 94% of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Many are no longer operational. Hundreds of doctors and healthcare workers have been killed.

Dozens have been arbitrarily detained, with many reporting severe abuse while in detention and UN experts have stated that: 'Health and care workers have been continuously targeted, detained, tortured and are now, like the rest of the population, being starved.' All of this is illegal under international law.

They add they cannot remain silent in the face of these atrocities committed against their  colleagues, working in the most difficult of circumstances, as well as a population already facing a public health crisis. More must be done. This is not a matter of politics, but one of morality, humanity, and justice.