Canada’s nurses join the international community in condemning the recent attacks on health care workers in Gaza, and we call for the protection of medical personnel, medical facilities and patients in all conflict zones.
About 245 health care workers and 40 ambulances have been attacked in the region between March 30 and May 27, according to recent reports. Among those attacked was nurse and volunteer medic Razan al-Najjar, who was killed last week as she provided care to injured protesters.
Health care workers in Gaza and all conflict zones provide critical care to those who are wounded, and do so in dangerous situations at great risk to their lives. They should never be targets. We join the international community in calling for international humanitarian laws to be upheld and for attacks on medical personnel to immediately cease. We call on the Canadian government to take action to ensure obligations to safeguard health care under international law are respected.
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions has previously spoken out against attacks on health care workers, medical facilities and patients in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and South Sudan.
Read more: UN agencies deeply concerned over killing of health volunteer in Gaza