A day after an Iranian missile hit Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, the World Medical Association (WMA) issued a strong condemnation of the Iranian attack, calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
“The World Medical Association strongly condemns the deliberate missile strike on the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, Israel, which caused significant structural damage and led to the suspension of most hospital services,” the organization said Friday morning.
Damages to Soroka Medical Center
(Video: Ilana Curiel)
“Under international humanitarian law, healthcare facilities are protected spaces that must never be targeted; such attacks constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Convention.”
The WMA stressed that “medical neutrality is a fundamental principle of humanitarian protection. Attacks on health infrastructure not only breach legal and ethical standards—they deprive civilians of life-saving care and compromise the integrity of health systems. The international medical community must reaffirm its commitment to the neutrality and safety of healthcare professionals in all conflict settings.”
“The World Medical Association continues to advocate for the respect of the neutrality of healthcare workers, safe and unimpeded access to medical care and humanitarian aid, and the protection of all healthcare infrastructures including hospitals, clinics, and ambulances,” it added.
WMA President Dr. Philip Ashok added in a separate statement, “Any strike on a hospital violates international law. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Soroka Medical Center and strongly condemn this attack.”
The WMA serves as the umbrella organization for 115 national medical associations worldwide, representing over 10 million physicians. Prof. Zion Hagay, head of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), is a member of the WMA council.
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Israel has long held prominent positions within the WMA, with former IMA chair Dr. Yoram Blachar serving as WMA president from 2008 to 2009, and Prof. Leonid Eidelman holding the presidency in 2019.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, the WMA has released several statements related to the fighting—among them calls for humanitarian aid to Gaza and protection for medical personnel on all sides.
Prof. Hagay told Ynet that he contacted fellow WMA members on Thursday night, shortly after the missile strike, to request an official condemnation. “Their response is a beacon of support for the people of Israel,” he said.
“This is a clear and unequivocal denunciation of the attack on Soroka. The Iranians are spreading rumors that we store missiles beneath the hospital but the WMA ignored those claims and chose to speak out clearly. At a time when very few international bodies are willing to condemn Iran or Hamas, this statement is especially meaningful.”