ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – The health and lives of Palestinian women are under severe threat due to an unprecedented and catastrophic health crisis, according to a report released by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, State of Palestine. The report, forwarded by the Palestine Embassy in Islamabad, highlights the systematic targeting and near-total destruction of the Palestinian healthcare system amidst ongoing aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
The report, titled “A Catastrophic Health Situation Threatens the Lives of Palestinian Women Amid the Ongoing Crime of Genocide,” was released in observance of International Day of Action for Women’s Health. It details the severe deprivation of essential medical services, particularly reproductive care, and the grave impact on women, including pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and those suffering from chronic diseases.
Since October 7, 2023, the health sector in Palestine has endured systematic targeting through military attacks and brutal assaults, leading to a complete disruption of the healthcare system.
Gaza: A Healthcare System on the Brink
The suffering of women in Gaza is particularly severe, as they have been deprived of basic health rights, including reproductive care and essential medical services. The World Health Organization reports 697 documented attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, including airstrikes, artillery shelling, and invasions, leading to their complete devastation. This has resulted in a near-total collapse of the healthcare system.
* Over 94% of hospitals in Gaza have been completely or partially damaged, with only 13 remaining to provide limited services.
* Hospitals and medical teams are overwhelmed, unable to accommodate the massive numbers of casualties, which include over 54,000 martyrs and 129,000 injured.
* A severe shortage of medical supplies and immense pressure on hospitals have worsened injuries and led to deaths, as the healthcare system cannot meet even basic treatment needs.
* Hospital bed capacity has plummeted from 3,500-4,000 before the conflict to less than 2,000, a number insufficient for over 2.25 million people.
* The healthcare system has also seen a significant reduction in medical staff, with 1,411 personnel martyred and 362 arrested.
* 144 ambulances have been targeted and rendered inoperable.
* Health services in northern Gaza are almost nonexistent, with Al-Awda Hospital at risk of closure due to attacks and lack of supplies.
Escalating Suffering for People with Disabilities and Rise in Amputations
The conflict has severely exacerbated the suffering of people with disabilities in Gaza.
* More than 15,000 individuals have sustained permanent disabilities, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and limb loss.
* An estimated 15,000 permanent amputation cases have been recorded across Gaza, with 48% of new amputation cases being women and 20% children.
* People with disabilities face extreme difficulty moving during shelling or displacement and are often deprived of life-saving warnings.
* Women, especially mothers caring for children with disabilities, bear a significant burden under inhumane conditions, often lacking essential medical devices or medications.
Plight of Pregnant Women in Gaza
Pregnant women in Gaza face dire conditions, including famine, acute malnutrition, and a severe lack of nutritional supplements.
* Over 300 cases of miscarriage and instances of malformed births have been recorded, attributed to the use of internationally banned chemical weapons.
* Inadequate medical care, rising anemia, and malnutrition have exacerbated the crisis.
* Approximately 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza live under harsh humanitarian conditions due to the siege and denial of aid.
* Cases of babies born without brains in northern Gaza have been reported due to folic acid deficiency.
* This situation, where pregnant women are subjected to forced birth prevention, is classified as a genocide crime under the 1948 Convention.
Chronic Disease and Cancer Patients Face Slow Death
Over 350,000 chronic disease patients face severe difficulties accessing hospitals and necessary medical care, as many specialized facilities have been destroyed.
* Approximately 12,500 cancer patients, including 2,000 children, are at risk due to non-functional hospitals and medicine shortages.
* The destruction of Al-Shifa Hospital has deprived many kidney failure patients of vital dialysis sessions.
* The closure of the Rafah crossing has impeded travel for treatment abroad, leaving over 25,000 patients and injured individuals on waiting lists with an uncertain fate.
Health Situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem
The health sector in the West Bank and Jerusalem has also been severely impacted.
* Women face strict restrictions in accessing healthcare facilities due to Israeli occupation policies, military checkpoints, and blockades.
* Over 930 Palestinians, including 187 children, have been killed in the West Bank.
* Access to healthcare has been severely obstructed, with ambulances and patients forced to take longer, less safe routes, delaying treatment.
* Many requests for specialized treatment outside the West Bank have been denied, particularly affecting pregnant women and patients with chronic illnesses.
* In Jerusalem, Palestinians face a discriminatory and fragmented healthcare system with severe service shortages, especially for women.
* East Jerusalem hospitals, which provide critical specialized services, face severe Israeli restrictions, impeding patient and staff movement.
* Mental health services in Jerusalem remain limited and inadequate given the volatile context.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is committed to its vision of prioritizing immediate and urgent relief for Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, providing essential services, and strengthening citizens’ resilience. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and UN agencies, continues efforts to protect the health rights of Palestinian women and society, despite financial challenges and the “piracy of Palestinian funds by the Israeli occupation.” The Embassy calls upon media houses to raise awareness and highlight the urgent plight of Palestinian women.
