Canadian Healthcare Workers Across Canada Unite for a National Die-In in Solidarity with Gaza

The national die-in took place simultaneously in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Doctors and healthcare workers from across the country, adorned in white coats, scrubs, and stethoscopes, laid down as a symbolic physical representation of Israel's targeted attacks on healthcare workers, facilities, and patients in Gaza. 

The healthcare crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic proportions, with no hospitals left operational. Despite staunch international condemnation, Israeli forces invaded and attacked Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians are sheltering. Following the forced closure of the Al-Najjar and Kuwaiti hospitals due to ongoing hostilities, the World Health Organization reports the last functioning hospital in Rafah ceased operations as of May 30. With little to no healthcare services available, millions of innocent lives, including children, are at grave risk. This is an egregious violation of human rights, and Canadian healthcare workers are committed to advocating for justice through peaceful protest.

Additionally, work conditions for healthcare workers in Gaza have gone from bad to worse. The World Health organization logged 935 Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. Nearly 800 healthcare personnel have been attacked by Israel's ruthless, indiscriminate attacks across the strip. Healthcare workers who are still standing are left offering the most basic care, within destroyed infrastructure, with little to no medical equipment, and under the constant threat of attacks. Many workers have evacuated hospitals and clinics out of fear, following raids on the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Shifa Hospital, where mass graves containing hundreds of bodies were discovered, many of whom were healthcare workers. Dr. Rima Sadiq, 29, who worked at the Kuwaiti Hospital until its closure recounts, "The bombing is relentless. With every attack, we receive at least 10 patients with varying degrees of injuries. All require immediate treatment and follow-up, and the presence of a nearby hospital is crucial in saving lives...The Israeli army spares no one, including medical personnel. We are all at risk of being targeted or arrested."

Healthcare workers across Canada refuse to be silent as Israel deliberately and repeatedly attacks Gaza's healthcare personnel and health infrastructure. We echo Dr. Hanbali's position when he says, "The targeting of healthcare, especially the spectacle of its destruction, is aimed to send a message that nowhere is safe, not even healthcare, which is granted special protections under international law."

• As healthcare workers, we are uniting to demand an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as:
• An end to the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers, patients and medical infrastructure,
• An end to the siege on Gaza and the occupation of Palestine,
• Reopen all border crossings immediately, allowing for unimpeded flow of life sustaining humanitarian aid and medical personnel in and out of Gaza.
• The upholding of the rights of healthcare workers everywhere to freely advocate for Palestinian health and human rights without fear of censure.

Statement from Ottawa Healthcare Professionals for Palestine

On June 22nd, we hosted the Ottawa branch of a National Die-In for Gaza, in unison with our colleagues and comrades in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver.

We laid on the ground in front of Canada’s Parliament buildings, in our medical attire, for 935 seconds. This was symbolic of the number of attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system that have been recorded by the WHO over the last eight months. 935 attacks on hospitals, clinics, ambulances, healthcare providers, and patients. 935 violations of international law.

This was our first demonstration, and it is only the beginning of our work to end the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers, patients, and medical infrastructure in Gaza, to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity, and to put an end to the genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine. 

If you are a health care worker in Ottawa who would like to join our group, sign up here

Statement from Dr. Yipeng Ge

Dr. Yipeng Ge attended the Ottawa Die-In wearing white coat that stated the "Canadian Medical Association Supports Genocide"

In his statement on Instagram, he explains:

I worked as a medical volunteer in Rafah, Gaza back in February this year at the Tal Al Sultan primary care clinic. This clinic is no longer operational because of the Israeli invasion in Rafah. It became a morgue taking in dead bodies from the Al Mawasi tent massacres.

While I was in Gaza, Nasser hospital complex in Khan Younis was under siege. I was supposed to work there initially. Healthcare workers were detained, tortured, and killed. Simply for committing to the duty for caring for their patients and community as healthcare workers.

Al Shifa hospital medical complex in the north has been besieged twice. Mass graves of children, men, and women, and patients have been discovered around these besieged medical complexes. These are clear war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israel on the Palestinian people.

Healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses have been singled out during these sieges on hospitals, where people are being picked out by the Israeli forces for wearing scrubs or a white coat. Again, they are detained, tortured, and/or killed for simply caring for patients.

These depraved attacks on healthcare must not stand.

We must demand justice if we care about equity in health and healthcare.

We must demand justice if we care about humanity.

We must demand justice if we care about human rights.

We must demand justice for Palestinians.

Since May 6, when the Israeli forces forcibly occupied and seized the Rafah border crossing, there has been no medical supplies and medications that have entered with humanitarian healthcare volunteers through the Karem Abu Salem border crossing, It’s been almost two months.

Where there is healthcare, there is life. Where there is life, there is healthcare. Palestinian healthcare workers continue in their inspiring and profound steadfastness to care for their patients and community. Al Shifa hospital medical complex is being rebuilt right now.

Palestinian healthcare colleagues are persisting to care for their patients and community, We must stand in unwavering solidarity with them to support their efforts in rebuilding the healthcare system. We must stand in unwavering solidarity for their right to self-determination.

We must stand in unwavering solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In historic Palestine, in Jerusalem, in the West Bank, and in the diaspora around the world. To fight and struggle for their right to return to their indigenous and traditional homelands.

We must stand with all indigenous peoples in this world who experience structural oppression, racism, and colonial violence. We must stand with Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) in so-called Canada for reconciliation, reparations, and land back.

We demand justice.

[Canadian Medical Association] supports genocide. This is because they have remained silent on these attacks on healthcare in Gaza.

While they called out attacks on healthcare in Ukraine. They also divested from Russia. And gave $250,000 to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Absolutely nothing for Gaza.

The complicity and silence of medical and academic institutions including medical schools in Canada on these abhorrent attacks on healthcare in Gaza must stop now.
There is a moral imperative and responsibility to disclose and divest.

There is a moral imperative and responsibility for the Canadian government to commit to a two way arms embargo with Israel and issue sanctions on Israel. Two
international courts are investigating war crimes and plausible genocide. Canada remains complicit in genocide.

From Turtle Island to Palestine, free all peoples who are oppressed. Free all the indigenous peoples in this world from colonial and imperial violence. It is a moral
obligation to stand with people who are oppressed, and their resistance against extermination. Free Palestine.

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To learn more about how Canadian health care workers trying to hold the Canadian Medical Association accountable on Gaza, read:

Open Letter to Canadian Medical Association regarding Gaza

Call on the Canadian Medical Association to DISCLOSE and DIVEST NOW!