Doctors Against Genocide urges US Senate to take action on ending Gaza genocide

​​​​​​​By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Doctors Against Genocide (DAG) gathered Wednesday in Washington, DC to urge the Senate to take action to end the genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The global coalition of health care workers mobilized more than 100 doctors, nurses and health care professionals on Capitol Hill.

"We are here because our duty as medical professionals does not stop at the hospital doors. It is our responsibility to protect life and to sound the alarm when we witness crimes against humanity.

"What is happening to the Palestinian people is genocide, and it is funded by our tax dollars. We refuse to be complicit. We demand that the Senate take immediate action," Dr. Nidal Jboor, co-founder of DAG, told reporters at a news conference in the Hart Building.

Jboor said the group demands the restoration of funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and an end to the forced displacement of Palestinians.

"We also demand a permanent ceasefire, not just negotiations, but a complete end to the slaughter of innocent civilians," he added.

DAG also asked for the release of Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who was detained by Israeli forces along, with others, during a Dec. 27 raid on the facility.

Meanwhile, Capitol Police interrupted the news conference saying it is not allowed to it in the building.

The doctors continued to deliver remarks outside the Hart Building.

A Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place since last month, suspending Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.