Israel’s shutdown of Palestinian Union of Health Workers Committee (UHWC) headquarters in Ramallah will have major consequences for the provision of essential health services to thousands of Palestinians, a programme for women’s health that was at the headquarters has now stopped. So far they have completely failed to protect the rights of all Palestinians – including their right to healthcare - throughout the global pandemic, pursuing a discriminatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. Israeli authorities must immediately rescind the shutdown order and put an end to the harassment of health workers. Instead of criminalising organisations providing vital health services, the Israeli authorities should be ending their institutionalised discrimination and systematic oppression of Palestinians.
Saleh Higazi, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa