Israeli forces bombed a building located just a few meters from one of Médecins du Monde’s clinics in Gaza City on 8th September. All staff and patients are safe, but the explosion caused severe damage, rendering our facilities completely unusable. No warning or displacement order had been given to our teams. Médecins du Monde firmly condemns this new blatant and unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law.

For several weeks, the Israeli army has been announcing an imminent ground offensive on Gaza City, while bombings have been intensifying and our team on the ground has been increasingly concerned about the continuity of its operations in the area.

« We have repeatedly alerted the Israeli authorities to the urgent need to secure safe routes to evacuate our staff and patients, but we have never received any response. We therefore took the decision to bring them to safety. If no lives were lost in this clinic today, it is only thanks to the composure and quick reaction of our teams. But they remain deeply affected and with no safe place to shelter. »
Helena Ranchal, Director of International Operations at Médecins du Monde

The security conditions no longer allow our colleagues to continue their activities in Gaza City. Médecins du Monde has been forced to suspend its operations indefinitely in this area by closing its two clinics. As a result, 600 patients who were being treated by our teams every day are now deprived of care.

« This is yet another flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. After nearly two years of demanding the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and medical staff, the situation continues to deteriorate. In Gaza City, one million people now urgently need to be sheltered safely in an ever-shrinking space. We are deeply concerned for the population and for our colleagues. If nothing changes, Médecins du Monde will be forced to end its activities in Gaza. »
Dr Jean-François Corty, President of Médecins du Monde

Médecins du Monde urges the Israeli authorities to immediately put an end to attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers, and to cease all obstruction of aid in the occupied Palestinian territory. The international community must exert pressure to ensure that a ceasefire is established without further delay.