Healthcare as a Battlefield Tactic
The context they conveniently omitted: FIRST INSTANCE: The Gradual Chokehold on Healthcare Infrastructure (1967-present) While the current crisis feels acute, the systematic degradation of Gaza's healthcare system predates the current conflict. Following the 1967 occupation, Israel began regulating virtually all aspects of Palestinian life, including health services. Records from organizations
like Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) document a consistent policy of restricting medical supplies and patient movement, even in comparatively peaceful periods. This began long before any significant Hamas presence, transforming what should be a universal right into a privilege subject to extensive security vetting. REPETITIONS: Weaponizing Health Access (1987-2007) First Intifada
(1987-1993): During the First Intifada, curfews, checkpoints, and closures routinely prevented critically ill patients from reaching hospitals. A 1991 report by PHRI detailed instances of ambulances being delayed or denied passage, leading to preventable deaths. This set a precedent for using movement restrictions as a tool of control, regardless of medical necessity. Second Intifada (2000-2005):
The Second Intifada saw an intensification of these policies. The World Health Organization (WHO) documented a 2004 incident where a pregnant woman in labor died at a checkpoint after being denied swift passage, a grim echo of numerous similar accounts that underscored the prioritization of security over life-saving medical access. The 'permit system' became increasingly opaque and difficult to