Criticism of Israel's violence: health system in the West Bank on the ground

Criticism of Israel's violence: health system in the West Bank on the ground

The aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) raised shocking allegations against the Israeli forces and radical settlers in their current report "Inflicting Harm and Denying Care". According to this documentary, which covers the period from October 2023 to October 2024, at least 870 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and more than 7100 were injured. The reports of 38 patients and medical staff underline how the access to health care is systematically hindered. Brice de Le Vingne, emergency aid coordinator of doctors without borders, emphasized: "Palestinian patients die just because they cannot achieve hospitals", which illustrates the drama of the situation, so krone.at .

blocked rescue transports and destruction of the infrastructure

The report also reveals that ambulances with seriously ill people are often blocked by Israeli armed forces at control points. It is also indicated that medical staff is exposed to physical violence during missions, which leads to a permanent state of emergency in the health system of the West Bank. Doctors without limits require immediate termination of violence against medical staff, while the WHO between October 7, 2023 and February 4, 2025 counted a total of 657 attacks on healthcare in West Bank, such as nau.ch reported. The situation has increased in particular since the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on January 19, which also contains the fragile living conditions of the Palestinians.

The Palestinians are not only exposed to violence by the Israeli army, but also the attacks by radical settlers. Between October 2023 and October 2024, the UN organization Ocha counted a total of 1,500 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians. This development leads to a more violent uncertainty of the Palestinian population, which in many cases hardly dares to move freely. The report makes it clear: "The health system is under enormous pressure and cannot meet the needs of the civilian population". The reports of the doctors without borders call for an immediate departure from this brutal practice and an end to violence to protect the basic human rights of the Palestinians.