Islamic Relief reaction to hospital bombing

Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, says:

“The scenes from Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza are absolutely horrific. Hundreds are reported dead, most of whom are women and children seeking safety and sanctuary at a hospital.

This atrocity is the terrible cost of the international community’s failure to act. For days, civilians in Gaza have warned that nowhere is safe and that hospitals, homes and school shelters are under attack. Their pleas have been repeatedly ignored, and world leaders have stood by as bombs rain down on innocent people and international laws are violated.

It is too late for the thousands of people who have been killed since last week. But now, surely, world leaders must stand up and demand an end to this violence and any further civilian suffering.” 

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Islamic Relief is calling for international law to be upheld. All parties have a duty to protect civilians from harm, avoid targeting civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, places of worship and humanitarian facilities, and ensure that civilians have access to basic necessities such as water, food and power. At the moment that duty is clearly not being met.