The destruction of the health system in Palestine : a lifeline in peril for women and girls (CSW69 Side Event)

On the 20th of March, the CSW69 Side Event on “The destruction of the health system in Palestine; a lifeline in peril for women and girls” was held.

Mr. Sofian Akmal Abd Karim, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Malaysia and chair of the meeting, began by recalling the creation of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – namely, independence, sovereignty and rights of refugees to return. Established in 1975, the committee has consistently called for an end to the unlawful Israeli occupation and illegal settlements, with the ultimate goal of recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, now recognized by 147 nations.

He then referred to the International Court of Justice’s 2024 statement, which declared the prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for its end within one year. He emphasized that the evidence is undeniable, the ongoing Nakba is unfolding in real time.

He further highlighted that while CSW69 was meant to focus on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing declaration and the progress made in securing rights for women, the ongoing attacks on the Palestinian population in Gaza – where women and children are the primary victims – demonstrate that the struggle is far from over. The fight for gender equality must include women of all backgrounds and contexts.

Zonya Rivero López, the Second Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) also emphasized how, in this context, it is difficult to celebrate the month of March, as Palestinian women in Gaza endure genocide. She further denounced Israel’s expansionist intent to seize Gaza with the complicity of the United States, asserting that such actions will not erase the legitimate yearning for thousands of Palestinians to exercise their right to self determination.

Feda Abdelhady Nasser, the Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, underscored how women have been victims of Israel’s illegal colonial occupation and apartheid regime for decades.

She quoted the Lancet Medical Journal which found that Israel’s war on Gaza has reduced life expectancy by at least 30 years. Women have been directly targeted by Israeli military forces: 2,000 Palestinian women and girls have lost one or more limbs, while thousands more have been forced to endure menstruation, childbirth, and other medical emergencies without proper supplies, water, or sanitation. Pregnant women have been left to give birth in unsanitary conditions.

She also condemned Israel’s attacks on hospitals, healthcare workers and humanitarians – not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank – stressing that its obstruction of medical supplies and medical evacuations not only violates the Palestinian people’s right to health but also their fundamental right to life.

She then shared the testimonies of Gazan women experiencing the ongoing genocide. A 18 year-old woman lost her mother, sister, and niece to an Israeli missile; the explosion also amputated her legs. Another woman, nine months pregnant, was bitten and dragged by a dog while Israeli soldiers stood by laughing. A third woman lost her 22 day-old daughter to hyperthermia, due to the dire conditions in the Khan Younis camp – where there were no blankets, no milk, and no basic necessities for survival.

Building on these testimonies, ​Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health and a survivor of apartheid in South Africa, denounced the global silence surrounding the atrocities in Gaza. She pointed out how Israel, Europe and the United States have ignored UN experts and continue to commit violations of the special protections afforded to civilians. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack health care workers, infrastructures, commodities and humanitarian supplies.

She also raised alarm over the widespread sexual and physical violence against women, including medical workers in hospital facilities as well as displaced women and children. She called for recognizing this genocide within the broader imperialist and colonial agenda, asserting that the struggle against it must be rooted in and connected to other liberation movements. She further explained how the health consequences of racism and discrimination can persist across generations.

Following these remarks, Mr Sofian Akmal Abd Karim invited Dr Mimi Syed, a certified emergency medicine physician who served in Gaza in 2024. She recounted that most of the assaults were occurring against children under the age of 12 years old, describing it as a premeditated and deliberate attack on the Palestinian population’s future.

Finally, Zainab Al-Ghonaimi, a Palestinian lawyer and women’s rights advocate, and a survivor of the 15-month genocidal war on Gaza, condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war. She also denounced the harassment and sexual violence suffered by Palestinian women, calling for those responsible for these crimes to be held accountable.

As a conclusion, this discussion highlighted the challenges faced by women in Gaza, including gender-based violence and the severe impact of ongoing conditions on their daily lives. Experts emphasized the specific risks they encounter, such as sexual violence, as well as the broader humanitarian crisis affecting them. These statements aim to raise awareness among the international community and encourage meaningful action.