Statement:

he White Helmets condemns in the strongest terms the bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation forces, which led to a horrific massacre that claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people in a flagrant violation of the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law, and of the most basic human values.

The deliberate targeting of civilian facilities, medical establishments, first responders, medical staff, rescue teams, and civil defense constitutes a grave escalation. Such actions pose dire consequences for the lives of the residents and challenge the international community and its principles, which vehemently condemn any form of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The policy of collective punishment imposed upon the people of Gaza, including the siege that deprives them of basic living requirements such as water, food, medicine, health care and fuel, poses a true humanitarian catastrophe whose victims are more than two million civilians from the Strip’s population who are now at the heart of this catastrophe.

The White Helmets call on the international community and the active parties in this issue to intervene immediately to halt these violations and collective punishment against the population and ensure the swift delivery of medical and relief supplies to the besieged population, alleviating their suffering and mitigating the humanitarian crisis. It is the duty of the international community to uphold humanitarian principles, protect human values, and prevent any violations and atrocities committed against civilians.