Iran’s leading medical association has issued an appeal for the ‘safe’ release of the Gaza hospital director

In a communication dated Saturday, Alireza Marandi, President of the Academy, issued an urgent plea to the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The letter, entitled “Urgent Call for Action Regarding the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza,” seeks immediate intervention in the escalating humanitarian situation in the region.

Marandi has strongly urged for proactive measures to monitor the situation of Abu Safiya and to take steps aimed at preventing any additional acts of violence against healthcare professionals.

He stated that the recent devastation of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the final haven for numerous vulnerable Palestinians in the northern region, has revealed an “unprecedented level of barbarism.”

On December 28, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Kamal Adwan Hospital, resulting in the deaths of approximately 50 individuals, including medical personnel, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry further reported that the remaining individuals were taken into custody by Israeli forces.

Dr. Abu Safiya has been detained for interrogation by the Israeli military amid accusations of connections to the Palestinian resistance organization, Hamas.

In a letter addressed to the World Health Organization chief, Marandi urged for intervention to halt the mistreatment of healthcare workers, citing the case of Adnan al-Bursh, who was subjected to rape and torture resulting in his death.

Dr. Bursh, a Palestinian orthopedic surgeon and esteemed professor, passed away in April following alleged torture while held at the Israeli-administered Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank. His death occurred after over four months in detention.

Marandi highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis escalating in Gaza, noting the deaths of nearly 50,000 civilians amid what he described as “the ongoing Holocaust” in the blockaded region. He further indicated that the actual number of Palestinian casualties is likely significantly higher.

He noted that the ongoing genocide, unprecedentedly broadcast live for the international community, has reached a new critical juncture in northern Gaza. Here, persistent bombings continue to target hospitals, medical facilities, and other civilian sites.

He commended Abu Safiya’s valiant resistance efforts against Israel and his dedication to assisting victims, even as he suffered the tragic loss of his 8-year-old son in a targeted Israeli strike.

Former Health Minister Marandi emphasized the critical role of the WHO Director-General at this pivotal time, highlighting the necessity of safeguarding the rights and safety of Palestinian healthcare workers and amplifying the voices of those in distress.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that approximately 50 individuals, including healthcare personnel, have been killed following Israeli aerial assaults near Kamal Adwan Hospital. Additionally, others were reportedly detained by Israeli forces.

The Israeli government has confirmed conducting an operation in the vicinity of the hospital, detaining over 240 staff members. Officials assert that the facility was allegedly being utilized as a “Hamas terror stronghold.”

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, denounced the lethal Israeli strike on a hospital as “a heinous war crime” and an element of what he described as an ongoing genocide in Palestinian territories under occupation. Baghaei also criticized the lack of response from pertinent international bodies, labeling their silence as “unjustifiable.”

Since October 2023, the conflict in Gaza has led to the reported deaths of at least 45,717 individuals, predominantly women and children, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution advocating for an immediate ceasefire.