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Essay
Caring for Families Under Occupation: The Struggles of Physicians Amidst War in the Palestinian Territories
Background: The ongoing military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza since 1967 has created a fragmented health care system in the Occupied Territories of Palestine, exacerbated by the current war in Gaza. Family physicians and other clinicians face numerous challenges, including the lack of coordination between health institutions, scarce resources, and limited access to specialized care. The October 7, 2023, war has worsened conditions, leading to more severe disruptions in health care and threats of violence posing new challenges for physicians working in these areas. In this essay, a family physician and her team in the southern West Bank describe their own challenges and give voice to the physicians in the Occupied Territories of Palestine they interviewed to better understand the professional and personal challenges of living and working during the uncertainty of war.
Key Argument: With the Gaza War, physicians in the West Bank are grappling with severe disruptions in access to health centers due to checkpoints and road closures, the constant risk of violence, and hospital raids that interrupt patient care. Witnessing the ongoing trauma to their patients and their own families carries a profound emotional toll. Despite these difficulties, physicians continue to find ways to support their patients and communities. They remain dedicated, even while facing burnout and emotional exhaustion, and many still seek ways to maintain communication and solidarity with their colleagues in Gaza.
Why It Matters: The personal accounts of physicians in the Occupied Territories of Palestine reveal the profound impact of occupation war and occupation on both clinicians and patients. Their stories illustrate the human cost of conflict and the immense difficulties in delivering even basic health care under such conditions. By sharing these experiences, the essay raises awareness of the need for international attention to the plight of medical professionals in the region, and the ongoing violations of medical ethics and human rights. It serves as a call to support these physicians as they continue to care for their communities despite overwhelming odds.
“We Haven’t Even Started Crying Yet:” Caring for the Family Under Occupation and War in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Therese Zink, MD, MPH, et al
Family Medicine, Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
