Assaulting Medical Neutrality: Reflections on Attacks on Healthcare and Clinicians in the Two World Wars and Implications for Contemporary Conflicts
Journal: Nursing Inquiry
Year: 2025

Wars in Ukraine, Sudan and the Middle East highlight that armed conflict is once more a significant geopolitical challenge across the world. An aspect of such wars is the deliberate violation of medical neutrality through the targeting of hospitals and clinical staff, including nurses, in breach of international law. Through a narrative review of documented cases, this article reflects on recurring themes in attacks on medical neutrality during the World Wars that resonate with contemporary wars