By Emma Farge and Cecile Mantovani
BERN (Reuters) -Swiss medics began a hunger protest outside parliament on Monday over the war in Gaza, pressing Bern to take a more critical stance on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian enclave.
Switzerland has condemned some Israeli actions in the conflict, such as an attack on a hospital last month, but has held back from stronger steps sought by the protesters such as imposing sanctions on Israel or recognising a Palestinian state.
Medics have signed up to protest outside parliament in pairs wearing stethoscopes and medical tunics splashed with fake blood, taking turns in 24-hour fasts in a relay system throughout the September parliamentary session.
“A white tunic used to protect you. Today, if you want to save your life, you take it off, and that’s intolerable, and it’s intolerable we’re not reacting to that,” said Professor Pietro Majno-Hurst, a surgeon and member of the Swiss Healthcare Workers Against Genocide.
The protest follows actions in Swiss universities and other protests at the weekend as famine strikes parts of Gaza.
“We can say the government is currently silent, inactive, I would say fairly cowardly, and is very lacking in courage. And I think today, it’s time for a change,” said Professor Karl Blanchet, Director of the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, who is part of the protest.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In response to a protest letter by the strike organisers, it said in July it was shocked by the suffering in Gaza and was calling for humanitarian access and a ceasefire.
Switzerland, which has close ties with Israel but a tradition of neutrality, has matched European Union sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, prompting accusations of double standards by some critics.
Two Swiss citizens were killed in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
