Can the World Turn a Blind Eye to the Suffering of Palestinian Mothers?

By: H. Zaïm-Bashi

The right to health and dignity is a cornerstone of modern human rights, enshrined in international covenants that guarantee the highest attainable standard of physical and mental well-being for every individual.

Yet, the systematic policies of the Israeli regime have transformed this fundamental right into a weapon of oppression against the Palestinian people—most egregiously, against its women.

 Historical Context and the Blockade 

"For over two decades, the Israeli regime has implemented policies that have restricted access to essential medical care and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians.

Since the imposition of a comprehensive blockade on Gaza in 2007—a measure ostensibly justified by the political dynamics following Hamas’ control over the Palestinian enclave—the movement of people and goods has been severely restricted. This deliberate isolation has not only devastated Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure but has also inflicted lasting damage on the health and future of Palestinian women and children.

 The Humanitarian Catastrophe 

Recent reports reveal that tens of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives, with women, including pregnant and postpartum mothers, suffering disproportionately. The systematic destruction of health facilities—%84 of which have been either damaged or obliterated—has rendered the remaining infrastructure woefully inadequate. Such calculated degradation of public health resources is a clear manifestation of a broader strategy designed to dehumanize and subjugate the Palestinian population.

 The Specific Toll on Palestinian Women 

Palestinian women endure a multifaceted assault that extends far beyond the conventional battlefield. In an environment where even the most basic necessities—clean water, sanitary products, and reliable medical care—are in critically short supply, the physical and psychological toll is immense. The alarming tripling of abortion rates since October 2023, coupled with credible accounts of coercive, unmedicated cesarean sections, underscores a systematic attack on reproductive rights. These brutal policies inflict deep and lasting trauma, disproportionately endangering the lives of pregnant and postpartum women.

 Legislative and Systemic Barriers 

Recent legislative moves further compound this humanitarian disaster. The Israeli Knesset's decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israel marks a significant intensification of policies aimed at isolating the Palestinian population. UNRWA has long served as a critical lifeline for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and its restriction signals an expansion of systemic barriers that deny essential health services and humanitarian aid. This new bill exacerbates the already dire situation, increasing obstacles to accessing necessary medical care and equipment, and deepening the vulnerability of Palestinian women.

 Moral Imperative and Global Responsibility 

As a French academician committed to the principles of justice and human rights, I find it imperative to expose these barbaric tactics for what they are—a deliberate and inhumane campaign that prioritizes military objectives over innocent human life. The deliberate undermining of Gaza’s health system, the calculated deprivation of essential medical and hygienic resources, and the targeted assault on women’s reproductive rights constitute a form of organized violence that flagrantly violates international law and basic human decency. The international community must recognize that the situation in Gaza is not a mere byproduct of conflict, but rather a sustained policy of ethnic cleansing, designed to render a people unviable.

 Conclusion

In light of these harrowing realities, it is our collective responsibility to demand accountability and champion the rights of the oppressed. The evidence is irrefutable: the policies implemented by the Israeli regime are not acts of self-defense, but rather calculated measures that have decimated the health and well-being of Palestinian women. It is time for the international community to stand in solidarity with Palestine, denounce these inhumane practices, and commit to a future where the rights to health, dignity, and life are restored for every Palestinian woman and, by extension, for the entire Palestinian people.

Silence in the face of such blatant human rights violations is nothing short of complicity. We must speak out, document these atrocities, and work tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails. The fight for justice is not merely a political battle; it is a moral imperative that demands unwavering international commitment.