By sadia mustafa
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deeply scarred the region, with Palestinian women shouldering a unique burden. As we embark on a journey to explore the complexities they face, the words of Palestinian-American activist and author, Suheir Hammad, echoes, “I will not dance to your war drum. I will not lend my soul nor my bones to your war drum. I will not dance to your beating. I know that beat. It is lifeless.” In the tapestry of Palestinian women’s experiences, each thread tells a story of resilience, struggle, and hope.
In today’s world, Health is not solely a matter of medicine. It’s a matter of power, politics, war, and peace. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), the besieged enclave has 50,000 pregnant women, many of them are suffering from a lack of regular check-ups and treatment since Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of fraying owing to Israel’s embargo. The UNPF issued a request last week for “urgent health care and protection” for pregnant women. The destruction of the Gaza Strip’s main roads have increased the amount of time it takes for pregnant women to reach the few functional hospitals to give birth. A journey that would take only a few minutes by car can now take hours, putting the health of mothers at severe risk.
The Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association reports that in the upcoming months, over 37,000 expectant mothers in Gaza would be compelled to give birth in the absence of power and medical supplies, putting their lives at danger and preventing them from accessing life-threatening problems. Abu Hatab said. “The lack of access to healthcare and treatment puts their lives in danger and may lead to death, and this is what we are mainly concerned about.”
The Palestinian health ministry said that Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman in the occupied West Bank on Monday, while the army acknowledged searches and a shooting incident in the region. According to Ministry of Health figures, as of 3 November, 2326 women and 3760 children have been killed in Gaza, accounting for 67% of all deaths, with thousands more injured. This implies that 420 children, some of whom are just a few months old, are murdered or wounded every day. Child, maternity, and newborn health services are being seriously disrupted by the bombardments, destroyed or non-operating health facilities, large-scale relocation, collapsing energy and water supplies, and restricted access to food and medicine.
In order to deliver their babies safely and provide for them, many mothers are unable to get access to emergency obstetric care. A growing number of women are giving birth in overcrowded healthcare facilities, in their homes, in shelters, on the streets among debris, or in 14 shuttered hospitals and 45 basic health care centers. In these settings, there is an increased risk of infection and medical difficulties, as well as decreasing sanitation. A critical maternity facility, Al Hilo facility, was bombarded on November 1st, demonstrating the growing attack on health services.
To ease the suffering and save a dire situation from spiraling out of control, an urgent humanitarian pause is required. It is imperative that all parties involved in the war fulfill their duties under international humanitarian law to safeguard people and civilian infrastructure, such as healthcare facilities. Health care is a right shared by all citizens, even the hostages who are being detained in Gaza. All captives must be freed immediately and without restrictions. In particular, all parties must protect children from harm and afford them the special protection to which they are entitled under international humanitarian and human rights laws.
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