Israel denies conditions for women living in Gaza, says Amnesty

Amnesty International Reports Erosion of Health and Safety in Gaza as “Deliberate Act of War”

A global rights group, Amnesty International, has issued a statement warning that women and girls in the Gaza Strip are facing severe hardships due to Israel’s ongoing conflict. The organization claims that the erosion of health and safety conditions in Gaza is a deliberate act of war targeting women and girls.

According to Amnesty, pregnant women and those requiring treatment for cancer and other illnesses have been disproportionately affected by the lack of adequate healthcare services in Gaza. The group states that the Israeli war has led to mass displacement, destruction of the local healthcare system, and severe restrictions on basic items and humanitarian relief.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire, Israeli attacks continue to kill more than 600 people, according to the latest figures.

Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza are also being impeded by Israel, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced across the Strip. The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) has reported that the health sector in Gaza remains under significant constraints due to restrictions on medical supplies and equipment, as well as fuel.

Medical workers in Gaza have reported an exponential increase in maternal and neonatal health conditions over the past 29 months, including pre-term births, low-weight babies, and respiratory conditions. A local doctor stated that displacement conditions have led to infectious diseases, citing high-risk pregnancies due to conditions in the Strip.

A Palestinian woman who gave birth to a son in mid-January reported that her baby was born with lung infection and is still requiring medical attention. She expressed concerns about her child’s health and well-being due to living in a tent by the sea, where temperatures have been cold and there is no way to keep warm.

Source: Al Jazeera