Protest at historic Paris hospital condemns Israeli evacuation orders for Gaza hospitals

France’s historic Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris became the scene of a protest on Sunday as pro-Palestinian supporters demonstrated against Israeli orders to evacuate hospitals in northern Gaza.

Organized as a silent protest, protesters gathered outside and inside the hospital, holding signs with messages such as “Solidarity with healthcare workers under lockdown. Patients are in danger”, “Israel is killing Palestinian healthcare workers ” and “There is a massacre.” in Gaza; health workers will not remain silent.” Participants carried Palestinian flags, wore lab coats splashed with red paint and covered their faces with masks, some placing Palestinian keffiyehs over their shoulders.

In a written statement, protesters drew attention to critical conditions in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for three hospitals this week. The statement emphasized that with limited resources, patients cannot be evacuated safely, warning that relocation would endanger lives.

The statement highlighted the severe shortages of fuel and medicine in Gaza, noting that some healthcare workers are choosing to stay with their patients despite the risks. “People in northern Gaza are trapped, forced to hide and maneuver desperately to avoid sniper fire from the genocidal army,” the statement said.

The protest specifically targeted Israel’s hospital evacuation orders and called for international intervention, calling for sanctions against Israel and asserting that healthcare workers and patients in Gaza are being deliberately threatened.