Montreal, May 20, 2021
Obaida, 17, was killed on Monday, May 17 by Israeli forces in the Al Arroub refugee camp. Imprisoned twice by the Israeli army as a young teenager, Obaida had been accompanied and supported by our team on the ground as part of our Children and Detention project. Médecins du Monde Switzerland is appalled by this terrible news and extends its condolences to his family and loved ones.
The recent surge in violence in the occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel has already claimed the lives of many civilians, including children. Since May 10, according to the Ministry of Health, 213 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip, including 61 children. 1,442 have been injured, and over 40,000 Gazans have left their homes to seek refuge in schools, mosques, and other buildings perceived as “safer.” Fourteen Israelis, including two children, have also lost their lives due to rocket fire. Médecins du Monde calls on the international community to intervene so that both parties to the conflict respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
Not a target – healthcare workers and civilians are not targets
Two doctors were killed on May 17 during a bombing. Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf headed the internal medicine department at Shifa Hospital and was a member of the hospital’s COVID-19 management committee. His wife, two children, and three other family members also lost their lives. Dr. Moen al-Aoul worked as a psychiatrist for the Ministry of Health before retiring.
Médecins du Monde condemns the deaths of these two doctors and their families, as well as the targeted attacks on healthcare facilities.
The WHO has recorded 95 attacks against healthcare structures and personnel across the occupied Palestinian Territory since the start of Ramadan (73 in the West Bank and 22 in the Gaza Strip): healthcare workers beaten and arrested, ambulances damaged, and the total or partial destruction of healthcare facilities hit by strikes in the Gaza Strip.
Under international humanitarian law, deliberate attacks against medical personnel and facilities such as hospitals constitute a war crime.
“Our teams on the ground in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza experience violence and bombings daily. Every day, every moment, the same question: will we survive until tomorrow? Nevertheless, everything is being done to continue assisting those who have survived and are affected by the traumatic effects of the conflict,” explains Korina Kanistra, General Coordinator of Médecins du Monde in Palestine.
Psychological support
Médecins du Monde has been working tirelessly in Palestine—both in Gaza and the West Bank—for many years. Our teams provide essential psychosocial support to communities, support health centers and hospitals, and assist authorities in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Médecins du Monde Switzerland has been working for two years with the local organization SAWA, which manages a free helpline offering support in cases of psychological distress. Requests have surged over the past ten days, and we are launching an appeal for generosity to ensure our emergency response.
Phone call from Gaza to the SAWA toll-free helpline
“I am in my final year of high school; I am afraid, my soul is tired, I am afraid of everything around me. I am sitting in my living room; at any moment, a bomb could hit me, (…) I need your help, tell me I will live and get my diploma.” – 17-year-old girl
Support our actions on the ground
Despite the ceasefire that has come into effect, the healthcare system is extremely precarious and weakened by COVID-19 and cannot cope alone with this chaos.
Our team already on the ground needs your support to continue ensuring access to healthcare for the civilian population, prioritizing:
- The purchase and delivery of essential medical supplies and medications under blockade conditions
- Mental health and psychosocial support services (helpline – 24/7 service)
- Capacity building for Palestinian healthcare workers in an emergency context