Philip J. Landrigan is a renowned pediatrician and public health physician. He currently serves as the Director of theĀ Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. Landrigan has co-chaired the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health and has been recognized by The Lancet as a āchildrenās health crusaderā for his outstanding advocacy that has prevented the deaths of millions of children around the world from exposure to lead poisoning and other toxic chemicals.
The Lancet has not turned a blind eye to the genocide being inflicted on Palestinians and has helped map out the actual death toll in Gaza. Moreover, Landrigan has been extensively featured in the American Medical Association's journal. Landrigan has been silent on Dr. Abu Safiya's imprisonment, but with a collective voice, we can move Landrigan and, in turn, move the American Medical Association.
In Israeli detention for over 500 days, now in solitary confinement, Dr. Abu Safiya's condition is worsening by the day. In the face of such injustice, the American Medical Association remains silent on their colleague, so now it is time to call on influential physicians to pressure the AMA to stay true to their principle "Do No Harm".Ā
Dear Dr. Philip J. Landrigan,
As an esteemed pediatrician and public health physician, CODEPINK and supporters call on you to use your voice in the medical community to speak out for your colleagues in Palestine. After almost three years of genocide that ravaged Gaza's healthcare infrastructure, the Western institutional medical community has remained silent.
36 hospitals have been destroyed, totaling every single hospital in Gaza being reduced to rubble. Today, zero hospitals are functioning at full capacity. Israel has killed 1571 healthcare workers, imprisoned 446 healthcare workers, and disappeared 5 healthcare workers in Gaza since October 2023. One of those who has been imprisoned and now held in solitary confinement is Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician, like you. He was the head of the last functioning hospital in the north of Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital. Even after a full blockade of the north, continuous bombardment, and even seeing the murder of his own son, Dr. Abu Safiya never left his patients.
A doctor who worked closely with him from MedGlobal has said that Dr. Abu Safiya always had the opportunity to leave Gaza, but he never wanted to. He found it inhumane to leave his people during a genocide when he could help them. In December of 2024, the Israeli military surrounded Kamal Adwan Hospital, placing it under total siege. To save his patients, who were now being cut off from external resources even more than they already were, Dr. Abu Safiya walked out of his hospital and was illegally detained. To this day. Dr. Abu Safiya is sitting in solitary confinement because he decided to sacrifice himself for his patients and profession.
This is the condition of medical workers in Palestine. They are dehumanized and subjected to horrific punishment for upholding their oath to the fullest extent. Instead of being respected for their selfless courage, they are killed in bombings and imprisoned. Recently, a picture was released of Dr. Abu Safiya, one of the only photos the public has been able to see of him since he was kidnapped in 2024. The picture was daunting, as it showed a frail, injured man with tired eyes staring back at you. It is evident, based on his physical appearance, that he is experiencing all forms of torture by the Israeli military.
Medical institutions in the U.S., like the American Medical Association, have not spoken up to defend healthcare workers in Palestine.Ā
You have said the following inspiring words: āPublic health is an extraordinary vocation. One of its main goals is to endāor at least lessenāthe sharp disparities in health that separate white from Black, rich from poor, and mainstream from marginalized.ā
We ask you to stay true to your words. We ask you to use your voice to defend medical workers who are upholding their medical duty to save the lives of a population that is being subjected to genocide. Your voice and your commitment to social justice are needed now.Ā Your ethical leadership is needed right now.
You have, in particular, dedicated your life to protecting vulnerable children around the world from harm. Children in Gaza are being maimed, tortured, starved, buried under rubble, and killed. Please speak up for them.
We ask that, as a contributor to the American Medical Association (AMA), you call on the AMA to:
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Condemn the targeting of healthcare systems and health workers,Ā
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call for the release of Dr. Abu Safiya and detained healthcare workers
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demand access to medical care and humanitarian aid for Gaza,Ā
Your voice can make a difference. We urgently await your response.