It is utterly shameful that the World Medical Association (WMA), which represents the world's medical community, is silently complicit in Israel’s bombing of hospitals, kidnapping and killing of doctors and health workers, and deaths of wounded and sick people needing medical care.
Right now, medics in Gaza who have dedicated their lives to saving others are being detained by Israel — a violation of international humanitarian law and an assault on the very principles of medical neutrality. These healthcare workers, already operating under unimaginable conditions, are now being punished for their commitment to care
We’re calling on the World Medical Association (WMA) to stand firm in their values and demand the immediate release of Gaza’s detained medics. The WMA has long championed the protection of healthcare workers in conflict zones, and now is the time for them to take a stand.
**UPDATE** As of March 25, 2025, an Israeli court upheld the decision to extend Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya's arbitrary detention for another 6 months. It is disgraceful that the World Medical Association has not publicly called for his release.
Add your name to the petition to demand the WMA break their silence and call for the release of medics in Israeli detention! Then, send a letter directly to the WMA to demand they break their silence and call for the release of medics in Israeli detention!
World Medical Association,
We, the undersigned, call on you to honor your commitment to medical neutrality and the protection of healthcare workers by demanding the immediate release of medics from Gaza who are currently being detained by Israel, including Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the former director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan hospital. As of March 25, 2025, an Israeli court upheld the decision to extend Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya's arbitrary detention for another 6 months. It is disgraceful that the World Medical Association has not publicly called for his release. These medics, who have put their lives on the line to save others under unimaginable conditions, are now prisoners — an egregious violation of international humanitarian law and the principles you stand for.
Your Resolution on the Protection of Healthcare in Israel and Gaza emphasizes the safety of healthcare workers and the need for unimpeded humanitarian access. Yet, the detention of these medics directly undermines these values and threatens the lives of countless patients who depend on their care. Remaining silent while these violations persist sends the message that medical neutrality is negotiable.
In Gaza, medics like Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya have been targeted for simply doing their jobs as healthcare professionals. Their detention is not just a personal tragedy — it is a humanitarian crisis. Every detained healthcare worker is another wound to Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system.
We urge the World Medical Association to:
- Publicly call for the immediate release of all detained medics in Gaza.
- Condemn Israel’s targeting of healthcare workers and facilities, in line with your commitment to international humanitarian law.
- Advocate for accountability, ensuring that all parties uphold the principles of medical neutrality and the protection of healthcare.
The world is watching, and your voice matters. Healthcare workers in Gaza risk everything to uphold the sanctity of life. It is your responsibility to stand with them by holding Israel accountable for its violations. Join us in demanding justice for Gaza’s medics. Lives depend on it.