2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Gaza and West Bank
context of hostilities, during past escalations as well as the widespread use
of lethal force by IF in the context of the Great March of Return
demonstrations at the Israel-Gaza border during 2018-2019. Despite
numerous incidents documented by OHCHR during May 2021 escalation
where Israeli attacks caused significant civilian casualties and damages to
civilian objects and may have violated international law principles, as of 31
October 2021 no criminal investigations had been opened into the conduct
of Israeli forces. 18 Similarly, no information is available publicly or to OHCHR
on any steps taken by the State of Palestine or the Gaza de facto authorities
to investigate alleged violations of IL by Palestinian armed groups during the
May 2021 hostilities. 19 The duty to investigate such incidents is an important
element in the protection afforded to the right to life and liberty. 20 In the
rare cases where there are investigations resulting in criminal charges they
are often incommensurate with the gravity of the conduct.21
Restrictions on movement and impediments to access to services,
humanitarian assistance
Continued restrictions on patients needing to exit Gaza to obtain essential
and often life-saving medical care in Israel or West Bank, as well as the
movement of essential medical equipment and supplies into Gaza, remain
of grave concern. Challenges include denial or repeated delays by Israel
approving exit permit for patients and their companions and the PA and
Gaza de facto authorities complicated and long-winded procedures for
referring patients from Gaza to medical treatment in West Bank and East
Jerusalem hospitals. In the first six months of 2022, 63% of patient permit
applications to cross Erez for treatment in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem were approved (similar to the annual approval rate for 2021). In
June 2022, men aged 18 to 40 had the lowest approval rate (43% approved
June 2022) while women over 60 had the highest approval rate (76%). 22 A
total 0.8% of patient permit applications were denied outright in the first six
months of 2022, including 13 children under 18. Tragically and all too often
patients die while waiting for permits. In the period 2008-2021 more 839
patients died while waiting for permits. 23 Since the beginning of the year,
OHCHR documented four patients including three children, who died while
waiting to obtain Israeli permits to exit Gaza for medical care in Israel and
the West Bank or later were refused admission by West Bank hospitals. In
one case an 18-month-old girl diagnosed with a treatable illness died due to
Israel's repeatedly delay issuing a permit for the girl and her companion to
Jerusalem. 24 Further, permit delays have also led to complications that
permanently affect patients' lives and restrictions on movement of health
staff has a detrimental effect on professional development and technical
knowledge that affects service quality and treatment. 25,26
Other concerning trends are security blocks, and in some cases arrest and
detention, of Palestinians at crossing points with valid Israeli issued medical
access, merchant or worker permits. In 2022, while no patient or
companion has been arrested or detained there were 58 security
interrogations of patients as a prerequisite to permit application. In June
alone 23 patients were called for security interrogations. 27 Further, in 2022
Israel (COGAT) increased the quota of permits for Palestinian labourers
18
A/HRC/49/25. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported having submitted 57 criminal
complaints to the Military Attorney General of Israel and 295 civil complaints to the compensation
office of the Ministry of Defense of Israel in relation to incidents involving the killing of 101
Palestinians and the injury of another 100 during the hostilities in May 2021. According to the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the Military Advocate General of Israel had indicated that, to
date, 11 of those complaints had been referred for further examination to the General Staff
Mechanism for Fact-Finding Assessments, established in 2014.
19
Ibid.
20
Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 36 (2018), para. 27; and Minnesota Protocol on
the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death
21
22
A/75/336, para. 9; A/HRC/40/43, paras. 19-21; and A/HRC/46/22, para. 16.
Data provided by WHO OPt, 2022
23
http://www.emro.who.int/opt/news/15-years-of-blockade-and-health-in-gaza.html
24
25
WHO Health Access Monthly Report, April 2022
http://mezan.org/en/uploads/files/16552750921901.pdf
26 http://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/palestine/documents/who_right_to_health_2018_web-
final.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
27
Data provided by WHO OPt 2022; WHO Health Access Monthly Report, June 2022
7View entire presentation