19-05-2025
Palestinian hospital chief calls for pressure on Israel
HELSINKI: An East Jerusalem hospital chief told AFP on Monday that Gaza was in a 'catastrophic' state after weeks of a complete blockade of humanitarian aid and called on countries to act to end the suffering of civilians.
Fadi Atrash, chief executive of the Augusta Victoria-Hospital in East Jerusalem — which helps Palestinians from the occupied territories and Gaza — said he could no longer 'find the words' to describe the crisis faced by people in war-torn Gaza.
'We are facing a very, very critical and catastrophic situation,' he said, with all components of the health care system destroyed, and health care workers 'running out of energy.'
Augusta Victoria, which had a hospital in Gaza that has been destroyed in Israeli bombings now provides health care in Gaza with the limited resources available, Atrash said.
Atrash visited Finland — which has not recognized Palestine as a state — on Monday as part of a tour of the Nordic countries.
'My main message for the Nordic countries is to put pressure to stop the war, to stop the killing.'
Humanitarian food, medical and fuel supplies have been blocked from entering Gaza for 11 weeks, and the World Health Organization has warned that two million people face starvation.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb joined other European leaders on Monday to call on Israel to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Stubb also said 'forced displacement of populations is a war crime and cannot form part of any solution,' in a post on X.
Israel this month approved an expanded military offensive in Gaza but has agreed to let limited aid into Gaza.
