We, alongside 17 health and human rights organizations, have issued a joint statement outlining the Requirements and Principles for Upholding Palestinians’ Right to Health.

With over 41,272 killed, 95,551 injured, 1.9 million internally displaced, and massive destruction of housing and infrastructure, no one in Gaza remains unaffected by this crisis—underscoring the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and a structured and principled humanitarian and political intervention.

The statement emphasizes that healthcare and the social determinants of health—such as economic stability, nutritional security, housing, education, and physical safety—do not exist in a vacuum and will remain compromised and targeted as long as Israel’s military occupation and blockade continue.

Health equity cannot be achieved in the absence of sovereignty and dignity. We do not wish to see a return to the “old normal” where Palestinian health and access to healthcare in Gaza are relegated to the humanitarian realm, dependent on conditional aid and Israeli permits, perpetually constrained and de-developed, and trapped in endless cycles of destruction and reconstruction.

We thus propose 10 principles, both immediate and long-term requirements, to achieve health equity for Palestinians. Humanitarian and medical organizations must adhere to these guiding principles in the planning and implementation of both immediate and post-ceasefire interventions.

Read the full statement here:
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Requirements and principles for upholding Palestinians’ right to health:

As the war on Gaza surpasses 340 days, the toll on its population has been catastrophic. With over 41,020 deaths, 94,925 injured, 1.9 million internally displaced, and massive destruction of housing and infrastructure, no one in Gaza remains unaffected by this crisis–underscoring the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and a structured and principled humanitarian and political intervention. While Gaza’s healthcare system was already exhausted from years of occupation and blockade, the targeting of healthcare workers and the decimation of healthcare infrastructure and resources during the current war have reached unprecedented levels.

According to a recent analysis, the rate of attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel in Gaza has been higher than in any other recent conflict globally, averaging 73 attacks per month. Though the Israeli military claims to conduct precise operations in healthcare settings allegedly used by Hamas, substantial evidence from UN agencies and health organizations indicates a failure to prevent harm to civilians and protect medical staff and patients. The continuous high civilian casualties and destruction of healthcare infrastructure highlight a significant gap between stated intentions and actual practices, undermining the principles of medical neutrality and international humanitarian law.

Amid the extensive violence, targeting of civilian areas, and widespread displacement, humanitarian and medical organizations must adhere to guiding principles in the planning and implementation of post-ceasefire interventions. This document outlines ten requirements for immediate relief and early recovery efforts in Gaza, focusing on public health and healthcare provision, particularly for internally displaced persons (IDPs), including mothers and children. The aim is to prevent excess morbidity and mortality, including deterioration in mental health, and to ensure the long-term sustainability of medical care and public health services.

We emphasize that healthcare and the social determinants of health—such as economic stability, nutritional security, housing, education, and physical safety—do not exist in a vacuum and will remain compromised and targeted as long as Israel’s military occupation and blockade continue. In view of the recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), humanitarian efforts by international actors should not absolve Israel of its fundamental responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of the occupied Palestinian population, provide healthcare and public health services, and be accountable for the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. Concurrently, planning for the transition to a fully autonomous Palestinian health system must begin immediately to ensure sustainable health governance independent of external control. Health equity cannot be achieved in the absence of sovereignty and dignity. We do not wish to see a return to the “old normal” where Palestinian health and access to healthcare in Gaza are relegated to the humanitarian realm, dependent on conditional aid and Israeli permits, perpetually constrained and de-developed, and trapped in endless cycles of destruction and reconstruction.

We thus propose both immediate- and long-term requirements to achieve health equity for Palestinians.

Ten essential requirements for upholding Palestinians’ right to health:

  Immediate steps to address urgent health and humanitarian needs:

1. Lift restrictions on, resume operations for, and enable the reconstruction of all health facilities and water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Gaza to manage immediate health risks, prevent malnutrition and epidemic outbreaks, treat war-related injuries, and ensure the provision of comprehensive healthcare.
2. Safeguard, respect, and protect healthcare workers and facilities, including ambulances, especially those on the front lines of health service delivery, including the immediate release of healthcare workers detained during the conflict.
3. Ensure the rapid and unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian aid, including disposable and durable medical supplies, throughout Gaza, with minimal restrictions to prevent starvation. Technical arrangements, including security checks, must not cause undue delays.
4. Facilitate the freedom of movement of IDPs, including their right to safe, voluntary, and dignified return to adequate temporary housing in Gaza, and develop a strategic plan for rebuilding demolished homes and infrastructure.
5. Provide expanded psychosocial support, focusing on conflict-affected communities, including specialized services for persons with acute trauma, recent disabilities, separated and unaccompanied minors, GBV survivors, and frontline workers.

Long-term steps for the rehabilitation and sustainability of the Palestinian health system:

6. Ensure that Palestinian health professionals and community representatives, including those in public and mental health, play leading roles in policy design.
7. Support the development of infrastructure, human resources, and clinical capacities to ensure the delivery of high-quality, comprehensive health services in Gaza. This includes rebuilding educational institutions such as medical, nursing, and mental health faculties and facilitating opportunities for medical professionals to pursue specialty and advanced training outside the Gaza Strip.
8. Develop an independent Palestinian medical system across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, ensuring unhindered medical movement for patients, healthcare professionals, and students within and outside the region, with assurances of safe return to Gaza.
9. Conduct impartial and independent investigations to support accountability, uncover the truth, and provide reparations for violations of international law, including failures to respect and protect healthcare facilities and staff, particularly regarding attacks on medical infrastructure and the killing, injuring, or incarceration of healthcare workers.
10. Advocate for a political solution that guarantees freedom, security, and full individual and collective rights for Palestinians, including justice based on equality and self-determination.