A delegation of doctors, surgeons, paramedics and activists reported the horrors they experienced working in Gaza to the European Parliament today.

In the European Parliament today, MEPs welcomed a group of medical professionals who have been on hunger strike since 31 March in protest against the medical blockade that has been levelled against Gaza, systematic attacks on Palestinian medical personnel and the complicity of European countries and EU institutions in the unfolding genocide.

The medical professionals, many of whom have returned from working in Gaza in recent months, reported on the horrific conditions that the Israeli military has subjected Palestinians to in Gaza. The decision to go on hunger strike was led by French emergency doctor Pascal André, who told MEPs about the many atrocities that have taken place in Gaza, while the ‘cowardice’ and ‘complicity’ of European states continues.

Other doctors present, who had also worked in Gaza, reported simply: “it was hell.”

Speaking at the discussion in Brussels today, Rima Hassan (La France Insoumise, France) said “We owe a debt of gratitude to these doctors for their bravery working in Gaza and continuing the fight here today. We need to accelerate action to end this genocide. But we cannot do it alone. The Left has led this charge in the European Parliament, but we also need our allies in other political groups to get behind us in calling this out for what it is: it is genocide.”

Carola Rackete (Die Linke, Germany) said “Hunger strike has always been a last resort and in the case of the genocide in Gaza it is more than justified. The pleas of Palestinians for medication and food have been ignored by Israel and its European allies. The Israeli government has been blocking humanitarian aid and medication for weeks and they are starving the Palestinian population. The EU must not be complicit in these crimes.”

Marc Botenga (PTB/PVDA, Belgium) said: “This issue goes far beyond the failure of European countries to level sanctions against Israel. European countries and the United States are working in concert with Israel to this day, which demonstrates the criminal foreign policy of the European Union with regards to the genocide in Gaza. These brave doctors show an alternative path.”