Pretoria, South Africa – The Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, characterizing them as barbaric and in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention. In a letter addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Dr. F.I. Suliman, President of IMASA, expressed deep concern over the relentless air strikes targeting homes, mosques, hospitals, and civilians, leading to significant loss of life, injuries, and extensive destruction.
The letter highlights the use of incendiary weapons, specifically white phosphorus, which is prohibited under the Geneva Convention’s rules. These weapons, primarily designed to set fire to objects and cause burn injuries, have been employed against civilians in Gaza, raising serious ethical and legal concerns.
Furthermore, IMASA accuses Israel of deliberately targeting healthcare facilities and healthcare workers, an act considered a grave violation of humanitarian norms. The recent bombing of the Al Ahli Baptist hospital, where civilians sought refuge after being displaced by Israeli bombings, is a stark example of these attacks. IMASA has criticized Israel’s attempt to shift blame for the hospital bombing onto HAMAS, calling it a “barbaric and deliberate” act.
Dr. Suliman’s letter also decries the Israeli government’s unapologetic stance, which IMASA believes aligns with a broader agenda to force Palestinians out of their occupied territories, including Gaza. The organization asserts that these actions amount to ethnic cleansing, pushing those who do not flee into refugee camps in neighboring countries.
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IMASA has called upon the global medical community to isolate the Israeli medical fraternity and impose sanctions and boycotts as a means of holding them accountable for their actions. The organization’s letter draws a parallel between the Israeli offensive and South Africa’s apartheid era, suggesting that the “barbarism of the Israelis” surpasses even the oppression faced by black South Africans during apartheid.
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has yet to respond to the letter. However, this condemnation from IMASA joins a growing chorus of international voices expressing concern and urging an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip. As the situation unfolds, the world watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
[Author’s Note: This article is based on a letter from the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa to President Cyril Ramaphosa and reflects the organization’s perspective on the Israeli-Gaza conflict. The content of the letter and the article does not represent the views of the news organization or its authors.**]
