SAFA- Participants in coordinated sit-ins across the Gaza Strip called for the immediate release of 82 Palestinian medical workers held in Israeli prisons.

The rallies, organized by Gaza’s Ministry of Health at hospitals and healthcare centers, also condemned the targeting and detention of medical personnel while carrying out their humanitarian duties.

Sit-ins were held at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, and the Rafah Emergency Health Center, alongside similar events in northern Gaza and the central governorate.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics, administrative staff, and relatives of detained healthcare workers took part, raising banners and photographs of imprisoned doctors.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their medical mission despite the catastrophic conditions facing Gaza’s healthcare sector and the ongoing attacks against medical facilities and personnel.

At the main rally at Nasser Medical Complex, Dr. Mohammed Zaqqout, Director General of Hospitals at the Ministry of Health, said the detention of healthcare workers is a humanitarian crisis requiring urgent international intervention.

He said 82 Ministry of Health employees remain in Israeli prisons and called on health and humanitarian organizations worldwide to hold solidarity protests inside hospitals demanding their release.

Zaqqout stressed that Gaza urgently needs its detained doctors and medical staff as the healthcare system struggles to respond to overwhelming needs.

Flagrant Violation of International Law

Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, director of the Liberation Building at Nasser Medical Complex, said the detained doctors had carried nothing but medical equipment while performing their humanitarian duties inside hospitals.

He described their detention and reported torture as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which grants special protection to healthcare workers during armed conflicts.

Al-Farra said Palestinian medical teams continue saving lives despite extraordinary risks, stressing that targeting or detaining them constitutes an attack on humanitarian work as a whole.

Speaking on behalf of the detainees’ families, Sejood Sam’an urged international human rights and humanitarian organizations to intensify pressure on Israel to release the detained medical workers.

She said the doctors remained beside their patients until the final moments and refused to abandon hospitals despite the dangers surrounding them.

Medical Teams Vow to Continue Their Mission

In Gaza City, doctors and healthcare workers held a solidarity sit-in amid the ruins of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, demanding the immediate release of their detained colleagues.

Participants condemned the continued detention of healthcare workers under harsh conditions and described the targeting of medical personnel as a serious violation of international law.

They affirmed that medical teams would continue carrying out their humanitarian duties despite the destruction of hospitals and severe shortages of medicines, equipment, and essential supplies.

They also stressed that protecting healthcare workers is a direct responsibility of the international community.

The wife of the late Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh said her participation was an expression of solidarity with detained medical workers.

She called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow independent visits to detainees and facilitate the entry of medicines, medical equipment, and essential supplies into Gaza’s hospitals.

Detentions Deepen Healthcare Collapse

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, called for the release of detained doctors, including Dr. Ghassan Abu Zuhri, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Dr. Akram Abu Ouda, and Dr. Nahid Abu Taima.

He said their continued detention is depriving thousands of patients of urgently needed medical expertise at a time when Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing total collapse.

In southern Gaza, medical and administrative staff also held a solidarity sit-in at the Rafah Emergency Health Center.

Participants renewed their commitment to providing healthcare services despite the extraordinary challenges, stressing that arrests and intimidation would not prevent them from fulfilling their duty toward patients and the wounded.

The rallies concluded with urgent calls for the international community and human rights and humanitarian organizations to protect Palestinian medical personnel, secure the release of all detained healthcare workers, and end violations against them.

Participants emphasized that healthcare workers are protected under international humanitarian law and warned that their continued detention poses a direct threat to Gaza’s healthcare system and its ability to provide life-saving treatment.