A group of European doctors and scientists who have all worked in Gaza at some stage have written an open letter for the people of the region, in which they denounce the ‘Israeli aggression'.

The letter describes the current situation as a ‘ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent and intensity'.

"We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose," the doctors write.

They insist that Israel's behaviour ‘has insulted our humanity, intelligence and dignity, as well as our professional ethics and efforts', and call for an and to the aggression.

The full letter, which is signed by 24 doctors and scientists based in the UK, Norway and Italy is published in the medical journal, The Lancet, and can be read here