Doctors Under Attack: Protection of Medical Facilities With a Focus on Gaza - Film Discussion

Описание: In armed conflicts, medical personnel, hospitals, rescue facilities and patients are specially protected by international humanitarian law. ‘Healthcare is not a target!’ is the appeal of humanitarian actors in Gaza, Israel, Yemen, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine.

However, this protection is increasingly being disregarded, or healthcare infrastructure is even being deliberately targeted by the warring parties. This pattern has been impressively documented in Syria, where former ruler Assad deliberately had medical facilities destroyed. Currently, the bombing of hospitals, attacks on ambulances, and the detention and torture of healthcare personnel in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military are the focus of international attention. Numerous humanitarian and human rights organisations have documented these attacks, including the Israeli organisation Physicians for Human Rights. In its latest report, the organisation concludes that the extent and systematic nature of the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza constitutes a violation of the Genocide Convention.

One thing is clear: if the protection of medical facilities under international law is not enforced in war and attacks on medical facilities remain without consequences, this paves the way for a normalisation of violence against hospitals, doctors and patients.

The documentary film ‘Gaza: Doctors under Attack’ impressively shows this reality.
The film was originally commissioned by the BBC, but was withdrawn and not broadcast due to concerns about impartiality. In July 2025, it was finally shown in the UK by Channel 4 and is available internationally via the Zeteo platform.

Following the screening, we want to discuss with representatives of humanitarian organisations and experts in international law the pressing question of what international legal basis exists for the protection of medical facilities, where it is not being upheld, and what politicians and the public must do to support the work of humanitarian organisations that are committed to protecting vital facilities and patients.

Conversation with
Ramita Navai, member of the film team and investigative journalist

Panel discussion
Julia Duchrow, Secretary General, Amnesty International Germany
Guy Shalev, Director of Physicians for Human Rights, Israel (via online link)
Lara Dovifat, Head of Advocacy at Doctors Without Borders Germany

Moderation:
Layla Al-Zubaidi, Head of International Policy Divisions, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung