Ref: 134/2020
Date: 17 Dec 2020
Press release
With the existence of signs warning of a complete collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip
The International Commission (ICSPR): The current health risks require international intervention to force the Israeli occupation to fulfill its duties towards civilians in the Gaza Strip
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) is following with great concern the current humanitarian and health situation in the Gaza Strip, after the announcement of high records of daily infections with the Coronavirus; especially with the modest capacity of the health sector to respond to current developments; including the inability of hospitals to accommodate new cases of citizens of the Gaza Strip infected with the Coronavirus, which poses a great danger to the health service reality, the human reality and the lives of citizens.
The registration of Coronavirus infections reached nearly 44% of the total number of citizens subject to examination indicates that we are facing a new climax stage, portends health risks, especially that it is accompanied by seriously deteriorating humanitarian conditions as a result of the Israeli occupation forces’ insistence on tightening siege measures and collective punishment against civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The dangerous developments come in light of the high percentage of shortages of medicines, supplies and medical equipment at the Ministry of Health to nearly 45%, and a shortage of 65% in laboratory supplies and blood banks; In addition to a severe shortage of laboratory materials needed to test for Coronavirus in the Gaza Strip, and difficulties in providing the necessary oxygen to the sick and injured; This is due to the continuation of the Israeli siege and the irregular supply of medicines and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.
The International Organization expresses its fear of the dangerous repercussions of the current crises in the Gaza Strip, and warns of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip due to successive increases in the number of infections and a marked increase in the number of deaths. Therefore:
- ICSPR stresses the importance of the Ministry of Health’s recognition of the weakness of the Palestinian health system and its inability to respond to follow up on the spread of the epidemic, which puts the Israeli occupier, as well as the international community, before their primary responsibility, with the necessity to provide the necessary tools, medicines, and other necessary to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
- ICSPR calls on the international community to intervene immediately and effectively in order to pressure the Israeli occupation to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and provide the health sector with all its needs.
- ICSPR calls on the Palestinian diplomacy to intensify its efforts in order to hold the Israeli occupation responsible for its dissolution of its legal obligations towards Palestinian civilians, and to pressure it to lift the siege measures on the Gaza Strip and to provide the necessary tools to confront the Coronavirus.
- ICSPR urges the Ministry of Health in Ramallah to expedite the provision of the offices of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip with all laboratory and medical tools necessary to conduct the tests designed to discover cases of infection with the Coronavirus.
