Advocacy – MSF supports the UN’s finding that the Israeli authorities are committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip

According to OCHA, over 64,000 people have been killed – including 18,000 children since 7 October 2023. The UN’s new report draws on, among others, MSF testimonies regarding malnutrition, mass casualties in hospitals we support and the 1,800-plus casualties our teams have received in two of our clinics from distribution sites from the Israeli-run, US-funded operation, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

More organisations and governments are reaching this conclusion, but there is still not sufficient pressure to stop these atrocities from Israel. MSF calls on states to urgently act. States have an obligation to act to end genocide. States who don’t use their political, diplomatic and economic weight to stop this genocide are complicit.

For nearly two years now, MSF teams have witnessed first-hand massive levels of death, destruction and systematic attacks on the healthcare system in Gaza, which leaves Palestinians with limited or no options to access medical care. Today, no hospital in Gaza is fully functional. At first, a total siege was implemented earlier this year, and still today, humanitarian organisations are struggling to bring sufficient aid into Gaza, while people are still dying of starvation

We call on Israeli authorities to immediately open safe access for the delivery of humanitarian aid, including food and water, and to cease its attacks on humanitarian access and on civilians. Humanitarian access to civilians must be permitted and protected.

Voice note from MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza Jacob Granger:

Jacob Granger MSF EMCO on Gaza City situation.mp3

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au