WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao General Practitioners Association (CHV) has urged Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas to use his influence through the Dutch government to advocate for the protection of healthcare workers in Gaza. In a letter dated April 8, the association expressed deep concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region and the daily risks faced by medical personnel. 

According to the CHV, healthcare workers in Gaza are increasingly being targeted by violence. They operate under dangerous conditions with little to no access to essential medical supplies. The association is calling for immediate and large-scale international support to protect medical facilities, personnel, and supplies. The CHV cites the Geneva Conventions, which guarantee medical neutrality in times of war. 

The letter also aligns with the stance of the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG), which has issued similar calls to protect healthcare workers in conflict zones. Both organizations stress that medical aid must never be weaponized. 

Additionally, the CHV criticizes companies such as the Israeli pharmaceutical firm Teva, urging them to reconsider their social responsibilities given their ties to the Israeli government. The association argues that such ties risk indirectly contributing to the continuation of violence in Gaza. 

The Curaçao General Practitioners Association is calling on Prime Minister Pisas to put pressure—via the Dutch government—on the international community to help end the violence and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. 

“We must act together to protect human life and dignity,” the letter concludes.