Medical professionals affiliated with the Order of Doctors initiate a hunger strike in support of Gaza

The Order of Physicians and Surgeons in Italy has been at the forefront of medical humanitarian initiatives related to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Most notably, the organisation has facilitated medical evacuations of Gazan children and families, working tirelessly to create pathways for these evacuations amid ongoing conflict and blockade conditions.

Recently, the Order of Physicians and Surgeons of Turin displayed a white sheet for Gaza on the facade of their headquarters on corso Francia, a clear condemnation of attacks on healthcare facilities and hospitals in the Gaza Strip. This gesture, along with the ongoing Relay Fast for Gaza initiative, is a powerful expression of solidarity and sharing with their colleagues working under challenging conditions in Gaza.

The Relay Fast for Gaza initiative, which began on July 29, is currently underway throughout Italy. Healthcare workers in Tuscany have been participating in the relay, fasting in protest and solidarity for the people of Gaza. The initiative has gained momentum, with other regions joining in the following days.

Guido Giustetto, president of the Turin Order, and Chiara Rivetti, vice-president and regional secretary of the Anaao Assomed union, have joined the solidarity movement. They, along with many other doctors across Italy, are inviting all medical professionals to join the protest against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The white sheet for Gaza, hanging on the balcony of the Turin Order's headquarters, echoes the cry of pain from a Palestinian pediatrician. It is a poignant symbol of the shock felt by many at the seemingly unending suffering in Gaza. Over 60,000 victims, including many children, have died in Gaza after 21 months of war.

The Order of Physicians and Surgeons of Turin promotes the initiative as a way to express closeness to their colleagues working in Gaza. This sentiment is shared by many within the medical community, who see this as a chance to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering.

The Order's involvement in Gaza-related medical aid is not new. Historically, such initiatives by Italian medical organizations align with broader humanitarian and ethical commitments to provide medical assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflict. This commitment is reflected in the Order of Physicians and Surgeons' participation in the Relay Fast for Gaza, as well as their ongoing efforts to rebuild Gaza’s health system, respecting international humanitarian laws and medical ethics established in prior global health emergencies.

References:

[Source 1]
[Source 2]
[Source 3]

Medical professionals affiliated with the Order of Doctors initiate a hunger strike in support of Gaza