NNA - Doctors Without Borders said that "Israeli military operations in the West Bank and restrictions on movement have severely reduced Palestinians' ability to access basic healthcare."
The report issued by the organization today entitled: "Harm and Denial of Health Care," said that these Israeli practices are part of a systematic pattern of repression, which the International Court of Justice described as amounting to racial segregation and apartheid.
The report covers the period between October 2023 and October 2024, and includes interviews with 38 patients and MSF workers, in addition to hospital teams of paramedics and volunteers supported by the organization.
They stressed that the Israeli occupation's incursions and severe restrictions on movement have limited access to basic services, especially healthcare, as the situation has deteriorated further since the ceasefire was declared in Gaza, as living conditions have deteriorated for many Palestinians who pay a heavy price, both physically and psychologically.
“Palestinian patients are dying simply because they cannot reach hospitals,” explains MSF Emergency Coordinator Brice de le Vigne. “We see Israeli forces intercepting ambulances at checkpoints, even while they are transporting critically ill patients, surrounding and raiding medical facilities during military operations, and subjecting health workers to physical violence as they try to save lives.”
The organization noted that its staff have received reports of increasing attacks on medical staff and facilities, including attacks on hospitals, the destruction of temporary medical sites in refugee camps, and the harassment, detention, injury, and even killing of paramedics and medical workers by the occupation forces.
Between October 2023 and December 2024, the World Health Organization recorded 694 attacks on health care in the West Bank, with hospitals and health care facilities often under siege by the occupying forces, with health workers reporting feelings of insecurity, being frequently harassed, detained, injured and even killed.
“Israeli forces surrounded the temporary treatment centre in Tubas and closed its entrances, even though it was very clear that this was a medical building. They forced all the medics out of the centre. There are about 22 medics there. The occupation forces fired inside and outside the building, destroying our supplies and damaging the centre,” said a paramedic with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which MSF supports.
It continued, "In addition to repeated Israeli military incursions, colonist violence and the continued expansion of colonies have exposed many Palestinians to further violence, amid fear of moving around the West Bank.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 1,500 attacks by settlers on Palestinians were recorded between October 2023 and October 2024."
The organization stressed that Israel, the occupying power, has legal obligations under international law to ensure access to health care for the population and protect medical workers, in light of the enormous pressure facing the health care system in the West Bank.
Doctors Without Borders called on the occupation authorities to stop their violence against medical staff, patients and health facilities, and to stop attacks that hinder medical personnel from performing their life-saving duties.—WAFA
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