“The Israeli military operations in the West Bank and the restrictions on movement have caused a sharp reduction in the ability of Palestinians to access basic health care,” said Doctors Without Borders.
The organization explained in a report issued today, Thursday, entitled: “Harm and Denial of Health Care,” that these Israeli practices constitute part of a systematic pattern of repression, which the International Court of Justice described as amounting to racial segregation and apartheid.
The report confirmed that the Israeli occupation’s incursions and severe restrictions on movement have limited access to basic services, especially health care, as the situation has deteriorated further since the ceasefire was declared in Gaza, as living conditions have deteriorated for many Palestinians who are paying a heavy price on both the physical and psychological levels.
“Palestinian patients are dying simply because they cannot reach hospitals,” said Brice de le Vigne, MSF’s emergency coordinator. “We see Israeli forces blocking 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 indicated that its staff received reports of increasing attacks on medical staff and facilities, including attacks on hospitals, the destruction of temporary medical sites in refugee camps, in addition to the harassment, detention, injuries, 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, and health workers expressing a sense of insecurity, as they are frequently harassed, detained, injured, and even killed.
The organization pointed out that the restrictions imposed on movement have had fatal consequences, as access to health care has been severely hampered by the obstruction and targeting of ambulances, and the escalation of aggression that has resulted in many casualties and injuries, in addition to the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including roads, health facilities, water and electricity networks, especially in the Tulkarm and Jenin camps.
The organization pointed out that in remote areas and suburbs of cities such as Jenin and Nablus, the situation is even more dire, as patients with chronic diseases, such as those in need of regular kidney dialysis, are forced to remain at home due to the significant obstacles that prevent them from accessing health care.
“In addition to repeated Israeli military incursions, settler violence and the continued expansion of settlements have exposed many Palestinians to further violence, amid fear of moving around the West Bank,” she continued.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 1,500 settler attacks on Palestinians were recorded between October 2023 and October 2024.”
The organization stressed that “Israel” bears legal obligations under international law to ensure the population’s access to health care and to protect medical workers, in light of the enormous pressure facing the health care system in the West Bank, which forces it to operate in a permanent state of emergency.
MSF called on the occupation authorities to stop their violence against medical staff, patients and health facilities, and to stop attacks that prevent medical personnel from performing their life-saving duties.