Recent news has been marked by a tragic event in Gaza. The Al-Ahli Arabi Anglican Hospital, located in the city center, was hit by strikes on Tuesday evening, killing hundreds of people. While responsibilities are still unclear and Israel and Hamas are passing the buck, condemnation of this barbaric act is not long in coming.
The African Union (AU) was one of the first to respond, calling the attack on the hospital a “war crime.” AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat strongly condemned Israel on social media, saying “targeting a hospital, considered a safe haven under international humanitarian law, is a war crime.” He also called on the international community to act.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi joined the condemnations, denouncing the attack as a “blatant violation of international law.” The protests then spread to several countries, with demonstrations in Tunis in front of the French embassy and in Mauritania in front of the American embassy. The anger is palpable, with slogans such as “End the genocide in Gaza” and “Israel is not a nation but a criminal and terrorist organization”.
In Morocco, where relations with Israel have been normalized in recent years, a civil society movement is calling for an end to any form of normalization with the Jewish state. In Egypt too, the population is expressing their anger at this tragedy.
Faced with these reactions and international condemnations, it is essential that the international community take concrete measures to enforce international law and put an end to this spiral of violence.
In this context, it is important to remember that every life counts and that the protection of civilians, especially the innocent victims of this war, must be an absolute priority. Hospitals, as spaces of care and security, must remain out of reach of armed conflicts.
It is urgent that the major world powers take their responsibilities and work for peace and the protection of human rights in this conflict-ravaged region. Only collective commitment and decisive action can end this escalation of violence and enable a future of peace for all people in the region.