'This is becoming an existential threat,' warns MK Zvi Succot as lawmakers review surge in weapons smuggling from Egypt; one resident reports 550 drone runs in three days: 'I sit on my porch and drones pass overhead. One day, they’ll drop a bomb on a kindergarten'
Nearly 900 drone smuggling attempts from Egypt into Israel were recorded in the past three months, according to testimony before the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.
The number marks a sharp rise from 464 attempts in the same period in 2024. Officials noted that the number of incursions declined after the IDF deployed new counter‑drone systems last month. The hearing was convened at the request of Religious Zionist Party MK Zvi Succot, with part of it held behind closed doors.
During the meetings, IMA leaders made clear that Israel’s physicians and medical institutions operate strictly in accordance with medical ethics, the Geneva Convention and international law, even during wartime. IMA Chair Professor Zion Hagay and Director-General Leah Wapner represented Israel’s medical community in discussions with dozens of delegates from around the world.
According to the two, they were ultimately able to influence the debate and prevent the proposal from reaching the conference agenda. “This achievement demonstrates the Israel Medical Association’s commitment to ethics, international values and professional cooperation around the world,” the IMA said in a statement. “It reinforces the standing of Israel’s medical community within the world’s leading medical organization.”
Hostile atmosphere toward Israel, even from friendly European nations
(Photo: Pedro Nunes /Reuters)
More than 120 countries are members of the WMA. Hagay said the initiative to remove Israel was driven mainly by delegates from Britain, Turkey, Chile, Uruguay and several nations in South Africa and Latin America, who accused Israel and its doctors of genocide.
British and Turkish pressure
About three months ago, members of the British Medical Association (BMA) voted to cut ties with their Israeli counterparts over the war in Gaza. In a joint statement last month, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the BMA called on governments and international organizations to push for an immediate ceasefire, respect for medical neutrality and humanitarian law, and investigations into what they described as “attacks on health care workers and facilities by Israeli forces, as well as arbitrary arrests and mistreatment of medical personnel in Gaza.”
'They accused us, the doctors of Israel, of having blood on our hands, and the atmosphere was extremely hostile. We didn’t give up and met with dozens of national representatives. In the end, we managed to turn the tables and remove the proposal from the agenda'
They also called for the release of all hostages before the recent hostage deal was signed, adequate access to humanitarian aid and an increase in medical evacuations from Gaza. Their statement claimed that at least 94% of hospitals in Gaza had been damaged or destroyed, that hundreds of doctors and medical staff had been killed, and that dozens had been detained and reported severe abuse while in custody. “All this is illegal under international law,” the organizations wrote. They said they intended to raise these issues at the WMA General Assembly and hoped the world body would join their call, describing it as “the least we can do.”
According to the IMA, Hagay and Wapner held numerous meetings with representatives from countries across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, the United States and Australia to explain Israeli doctors’ ethical obligations and commitment to international conventions.
“We didn’t give up and met with dozens of national representatives,” said Prof. Zion Hagay, chair of theIMA
(Photo: Gil Nechushtan)
“As a result of these talks, several countries changed their positions and acknowledged that Israeli doctors act solely to assist and care for anyone in need,” the IMA said. “In recent days, many nations also expressed relief over the hostage release agreement, the end of the war and the opportunity to begin regional recovery.”
Ilana Curiel
Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkw93mptgl
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