How we survive Israel’s war on the West Bank | Close Up

“Our ngo is solely to supply aesculapian aid, and we shouldn’t beryllium punished for it – whether done suspicion, detention aliases death,” says Safiya al-Bibissi, an ambulance driver pinch nan Palestinian Red Crescent arsenic she describes nan curen of first responders by Israeli forces successful nan illegally occupied West Bank.

Despite nan risks, al-Bibissi drives an ambulance done blocked roads and restricted areas to scope patients successful Tulkarem. “We’re targeted each nan time; it’s psychological destruction,” she adds, noting her azygous offers nary protection against unit from Israeli troops.

Since nan warfare connected Gaza began, nan Palestinian Red Crescent has reported astatine slightest 750 violations against its unit and patients successful nan West Bank. In September, nan Israeli subject launched its largest battle connected nan occupied territory since nan 2nd Intifada, sidesplitting 18 people, including children, successful Tulkarem. The demolition of Palestinian homes, roads and infrastructure, specified arsenic h2o and sewage systems, has made it moreover harder for emergency workers to scope those successful need.

Palestinians successful nan occupied territory are now struggling to unafraid necessities, including nutrient and water. “I don’t deliberation anyone surviving successful this business tin see themselves free,” says Raghad al-Fanni, besides a resident of Tulkarem. Al-Fanni spent much than a twelvemonth successful an Israeli situation without moreover being formally charged – nether nan believe of administrative detention, which allows Israel to detain Palestinians without proceedings aliases explanation. At slightest 3,300 Palestinians stay successful Israeli prisons nether this system.

Al-Fanni was released past twelvemonth during a four-day region successful fighting betwixt Israel and Hamas, which included an speech of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners successful Israel. “Now, if you spell done a time without emotion nan fearfulness of outer danger, that successful itself is an achievement,” she reflects. Life extracurricular remains challenging, arsenic nan uncertainty she faced successful situation continues nether occupation.

In this Close Up episode, watch stories of resilience amid expanding unit arsenic nan quality costs of nan continuing conflict successful nan occupied West Bank mounts.

Credits:

Director/Writer: Tierney Bonini

Producer: Manar Altell

Associate producer: Alreem Al-Maadeed

Editor: Farah Fayed

Additional editor: Antonia Perello

Colourist: Catherine Hallinan

Sound mixer: Linus Bergman

Senior editor: Donald Cameron