TORONTO, May 2, 2024
/CNW/ - On Friday, May 3rd, 2024,
Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-Canada (UOSSM
Canada) and Canadians for Palestine will be delivering a press
conference regarding Canadian doctors canceling their Canadian
Medical Association (CMA) membership due to CMA's hypocrisy and
silence on the complete destruction of the healthcare system in
Gaza. Many physicians and
healthcare workers in Gaza have
been kidnapped, tortured and killed by the Israeli forces. This
past week mass graves were also discovered at al-Shifa Hospital and
Al Nasser hospital containing
hundreds of bodies of patients, healthcare workers and
children.
On May 1st, Canadians for
Palestine's healthcare workers coalition launched a campaign
against CMA's silence. Physicians across the country are cancelling
their CMA membership in protest. The physicians describe the
hypocrisy and double standards of the CMA as the CMA actively
supported Ukraine
through public statements, donations, and
divestment of all Russian
Federation investments. However, the CMA has refused to make
any statement in support of Gaza
despite the complete obliteration of Gaza's healthcare system. The social media
campaign was supported by notable figures like Dr. Yipeng, who was
suspended by University of Ottawa after
publishing a series of posts advocating for Palestinian human
rights. The social media campaign also brought light to a
letter campaign organized by the healthcare workers coalition,
which was signed by over 1500 Canadian healthcare professionals.
The letter detailed various concerns including evidence of
Israel's targeted bombing and
destruction of the entire healthcare system in Gaza, killing of more than 42,000 civilians
70% of whom are women and children, anti-Palestinian racism
within the Canadian healthcare system and discriminatory access to
healthcare for new arrivals from Gaza.
Additionally, the conference will discuss the shocking finding
of mass graves and torture uncovered in two hospitals in
the Gaza strip. The mass
graves contained 392 bodies, including women, children, and
the elderly, who showed signs of torture and executions. Mohammed
Mughier, the civil defense member said "we need forensic
examination for approximately 20 bodies for who we think were
buried alive." 10 bodies were found with hands bound, with some
having medical tubes attached. As of April
25th, 2024, only 65 bodies had been identified as many
bodies had been decomposing, mutilated, and tortured. However,
Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the
U.S. State Department claimed that the U.S. was asking the
Israeli government for more information on the mass graves found.
When questioned if they found the Israeli government to be a
credible source, Patel asserted "We do." This is absolutely
unacceptable, would the U.S. State Department consider Russia to be a credible source when
investigating potential war crimes against Ukraine? As healthcare professionals, we also
call for an independent investigation to be conducted, as requested
by the UN Chief, European Union spokesperson, Amnesty
International, and other human rights groups. These war crime
scenes need to be protected for professional forensic assessment.
Israel has so far prevented
independent human rights investigators from entry into Gaza preventing assessment of the war crimes
and human rights violations in Gaza as reported by Erika Rosas Amnesty
International's Senior Director.
WHEN: Friday, May 3rd, 2024
at 10 am EST
WHERE: UOSSM office at 255 Dundas St W Suite 129,
Mississauga, ON L5K 1R6
Speakers Include:.
Dr Ali Iqbal – A nephrologist and
member of UOSSM
Dr. Aliya Khan – A Clinical
Professor of Medicine and a Board Member of UOSSM
ABOUT UOSSM
Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-Canada (UOSSM
Canada) is an independent, nonprofit, non-government, medical,
humanitarian organization, founded to support the health-related
needs and well-being of people and communities affected by crises,
regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or political
affiliation. UOSSM Canada is dedicated to building sustainable
health-related services and reducing human suffering, and is
non-political and non-sectarian in its mission.
ABOUT Canadians for
Palestine
Canadians For Palestine, is the largest grassroots Palestinian
advocacy organization based in Canada. It is dedicated to raising awareness
and promoting the rights of the besieged Palestinian peoples of
Gaza, and all occupied Palestinian
territories. The organization's mission is to educate, inform, and
mobilize individuals and communities to support the Palestinian
struggle for recognition and sovereignty. It includes over 5 vital
sectors including educational, legal, grassroots, media, political,
and research, and has attracted over 7000 professionals of all
backgrounds to advocate with it under a unified strategy for
Palestine Through peaceful advocacy, Canadians For Palestine aims
to amplify the voices of Palestinians by standing for justice,
equity, and human rights that transcend borders and are not limited
by nationality, religion, ethnicity, or bodies.
SOURCE UOSSM Canada