Palestinian doctor appeals to humanity and peace

[The occupation] affects numerous aspects of Palestinian life. My personal safety feels compromised, and there’s a pervasive lack of stability, both financially and emotionally. The daily exposure to violence and injury leaves many, including doctors like myself, in a state of psychological distress.

Presently, the situation has become very concerning. Actions in the West Bank can be best described as manifestations of extreme prejudice and racism. Things are spiraling out of control, and it needs to come to an end. Just last week, a doctor, who worked at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, was fired and subsequently arrested simply for liking a social media post.We are human beings who yearn for freedom and a peaceful existence. Our aspirations are modest: a life devoid of conflict and prejudice, where our basic human rights are respected.

Many Israelis are teasing, harassing, attacking Palestinians here in the West Bank (physically and verbally). Traveling even for work has become perilous. I was confined to my home [in Jenin] for an entire week before I managed to reach my hospital [in Jerusalem]. Palestinians are being subjected to attacks by settlers on the roads, which range from stone-throwing to gunfire. Consequently, major roads are now inaccessible, resulting in longer travel times between cities in the West Bank due to the need for detours.

The hospital where I work is currently inaccessible to many patients, particularly those from the West Bank and Gaza. Our surgical ward is overwhelmed with polytrauma patients from Jerusalem, many of whom suffered at the hands of police, settlers, and the IDF.

The quest for peace remains paramount. While international solidarity is essential, it’s disheartening to observe misrepresentations in a significant portion of global media, portraying Palestinians unfavorably (terrorists, animals, killing-machine.) It’s my hope that our hardships receive honest international recognition. Just because a few individuals act aggressively doesn’t mean all Palestinians support such actions. In fact, the majority prefer peace and oppose causing harm to civilians.

We are human beings who yearn for freedom and a peaceful existence. Our aspirations are modest: a life devoid of conflict and prejudice, where our basic human rights are respected. While I’m not a political analyst, I believe the actions and reactions on both sides of this conflict have exacerbated the suffering of ordinary civilians. It’s clear that many of the Israeli strikes weren’t solely targeting militant factions but had profound impacts on innocent civilians.

We are all human and deserve peace.

Words from a Palestinian doctor who works at a hospital in Jerusalem