Gaza medical practitioners witnessed Israeli genocidal intent

A French ER doctor highlights that "Israel's" targeting of Gazan infrastructure and buildings lies behind the "idea of destruction."

A surgeon operates on a patient in surgery operating room at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on December 31, 2023. (AFP)

All healthcare professionals and personnel working in Gaza amid "Israel's" ongoing ten-month aggression on the Strip have witnessed the occupation's "genocidal intent," Pascal Andre, a French emergency room doctor told Anadolu news agency.

"As healthcare professionals, we witnessed genocidal intent," Andre said, highlighting that they waited four months to reach the European Hospital in Khan Younis where he worked from February 8-22.

The health practitioner shared remarks from two of his fellow French colleagues who have worked in war zones, stating they had never witnessed such wounds before.

"[My colleagues] have never seen a war zone where civilians are targeted so much, where there is no escape,” Andre said.

"There are people there definitely with incredible courage. They are all civilians," the healthcare professional said, praising his Palestinian counterparts for continuing to work despite "Israel's" daily bombardment, evoking fear for their families.

Andre highlighted the occupation's "idea of destruction" when it comes to the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) targeting civilian infrastructure and buildings, such as mosques, educational institutions, religious and historical places, and healthcare personnel.

'Israel' killed at least 500 health workers since Oct. 7: Ministry

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Sunday the martyrdom of approximately 500 health sector personnel and the injury of hundreds since the start of the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The ministry added, in its statement, that "Israel" has arrested over 310 medical staff and destroyed 130 ambulances in Gaza.

It noted the systematic targeting of medical infrastructure by the IOF has deprived citizens of access to basic healthcare services.

The ministry further stated that poor water and sanitation conditions, along with overcrowding, have led to an increase in preventable diseases and early deaths.

It highlighted that Gaza is facing a public health disaster due to unsafe water resources and a lack of basic sanitation needs for over 1.7 million forcibly displaced people.

The ministry mentioned that the severe shortage of medical staff and supplies, including anesthesia and antibiotics, is causing healthcare workers to struggle to save lives.

In conclusion, the ministry called for the unconditional entry of humanitarian supplies to address the severe shortages and to assist in evacuating the injured for life-saving medical care abroad.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression against Gaza on land, sea, and air, resulting in the martyrdom of 39,897 Palestinians and the injury of 92,152 others, with thousands of martyrs still trapped under rubble and in the streets, inaccessible to rescue teams and civil defense