Today we welcome the news of a temporary, two-week ceasefire in the USA and Israel’s war on Iran. It is now essential that the USA and Iran stay at the table and agree to a permanent ceasefire extending to Lebanon, and that world governments – including that of the UK – apply all the pressure they can to ensure a diplomatic solution from here, to prevent more loss of life and the threat of nuclear catastrophe.
The war has been escalating in the last month, with many deadly consequences, particularly for the people of Iran and their land. On 1st April, US president Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran “back to the stone ages”. Since then, he has threatened civilian infrastructure, including “every power plant”, and on 7th April declared “a whole civilization will die tonight”. These statements show not only a disregard for international law, but also contempt for human life, and even genocidal intent.
The US and Israeli bombing has so far been characterised by attacks and threats to densely populated areas, critical energy infrastructure, desalination plants, nuclear facilities, schools and healthcare facilities. Bombings of nuclear power plants are not only illegal under international law, but they also risk harmful radioactive contamination, endangering the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems for generations. And healthcare workers must never be a military target. The protection of medical workers and facilities is a fundamental obligation under international humanitarian law and essential to the lives and wellbeing of the civilian population.
Despite the USA denying it intended to use nuclear weapons, this conflict has brought us dangerously close to nuclear war. We must be clear: any use of a nuclear weapon, including a smaller so-called ‘tactical’ nuke, will likely set off a chain reaction that the human race cannot survive. We must also be clear that war is an ineffective and counterproductive non-proliferation strategy – and this one has cost thousands of lives already and brought us dangerously close to nuclear annihilation. Thankfully, today’s news brings us a step back from the brink.
We join Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in offering solidarity to the impacted people of Iran and Lebanon, including the health community. We call for a diplomatic resolution between the USA, Israel, and Iran. This is critical not only for human security but also for protecting the health of people and the planet.
As health workers, we are united in the belief that prevention is the only cure. Escalating military intervention cannot secure our health or our future. We call on the UK government to support a diplomatic resolution before further harm is done to both people of Iran and their land. We call on health workers in the UK to contact their MPs, putting pressure on the government to help end this war and to sign on to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), saying that there can be no medical response to nuclear war.
– The Medact Staff Team & Nuclear Weapons Group
