Health

Now that Jordan Valley Solidarity has become solidly established amongst the local Palestinian community, and recognised by many international NGO's, it is challenging Israel's attempts to intimidate and remove the Palestinians on a daily basis.

Today I spoke to Mohammed, an ambulance driver and medical attendant, at his home about some of his experiences whilst on emergency duties for the Red Crescent Society Ambulance in the Tubas region. He spoke frankly to me about the difficulties he faces daily at the hands of the soldiers at checkpoints and in the region where Israeli soldiers' presence is frequent.
 
 

Our first night was spent in Al Jiftlik, a village with the surreal scenario of being half area B and half area C, meaning half gets electricity and building rights while the other half lives in the 9th Century. (We ate in area B and slept in area C, at least Palestinians still have permission for this.)

I have come to Palestine with a particular focus on women and women’s health. I am a midwife who has lived in Brighton for ten years. I work at the Royal Sussex County hospital. I joined the delegation to find out first hand the effect of the Israeli occupation on the women and their choices in childbirth. The quiet grinding everyday stress of living under occupation is a story not always told. The big incursions, the land seizures the dead children, shot for throwing stones make the headlines, the everyday problems of living under a power that wants to destroy you is not so newsworthy.