Escalation of Violence In The West Bank Impacts Health Services

West Bank, Palestine — Today, the escalation of violence in the West Bank impacts civilians, causing severe harm to people with disabilities.

Palestinians in the West Bank are constantly exposed to violence, which results in new injuries, long-term disabilities, and mental health challenges related to adverse experiences.

Since October 7, the alarming rise of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is confirmed by the number of Palestinians killed during Israeli Forces search-and-arrest operations, punitive demolitions, demonstrations, displacements, and settler violence.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented 774 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in 78 incidents of Palestinian casualties, 608 incidents of damage to Palestinian-owned property, and 88 incidents involving both casualties and damage to property. These incidents have escalated to an average of seven per day, representing the highest daily average of settler-related incidents impacting Palestinians since 2006, when the UN began recording such data.

On April 12, a settler attack in Al Al Mughayyir village in Ramallah governorate caused the displacement of 86 Palestinians. As a result of this, 21 houses were wholly burned by Israeli settlers, causing damage to about 32 vehicles and several livelihood, agricultural, and WASH structures.

Since October, around 1,700 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by home demolitions, for lacking building permits, or during operations by Israeli forces. Moreover, between October 7 and April 3, at least 206 Palestinian households comprised restrictions.

Impacts on Health Services

Throughout the OPT, healthcare facilities are vulnerable to attacks. From October 7 to March 12, there have been 403 attacks on healthcare across the West Bank, resulting in the killing of 11 people and injuring 69 others. Additionally, 48 health facilities, 16 mobile clinics, and 275 ambulances were affected. In Tulkarem alone, there were 80 healthcare-related incidents, including 59 instances of access obstruction, 42 cases of use of force, 15 detentions, and 18 militarized searches. Similarly, Jenin reported 75 healthcare-related incidents, with 56 cases of access obstruction, 43 instances of force, 19 detentions, and 21 militarized searches. Nablus documented 79 incidents, Bethlehem 49, Hebron 43, and Ramallah 31 healthcare incidents.

Today, Humanity & Inclusion published a factsheet detailing the impact of this violence on people with disabilities and new injuries.

“The vivid description of the devastating experiences emphasizes how conflicts deeply affect people’s mental health. The traumatic events bravely shared do not just leave physical scars; they cause lasting emotional pain,” said Bahar Alen, Humanity & Inclusion Global Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist. “People going through these challenges cannot be left alone to navigate the darkness alone. Mental health and psychosocial support are crucial for Palestinians during these difficult times more than ever.”

The recognition and protection of the right to access health services by both international humanitarian law and International Human Rights Law are crucial in addressing the ongoing health challenges faced by the Palestinians.

Available for interviews:

• Federico Dessi, HI Middle East Regional Director
• Mara Bernasconi, HI Policy and Advocacy Advisor
• Noor Bimbashi, HI Advocacy Officer, Palestine