World Bank raps increasing Israeli restrictions against Palestinians

The report, released on Monday, emphasizes that the overall Palestinian economy is underperforming, with per capita income projected to remain stagnant.

The report reveals a concerning rise in poverty within in Palestine, with one in four Palestinians living below the poverty line, according to the Washington-based global lending institution.

Several factors contribute to the precarious state of the Palestinian economy, including the occupying regime’s restrictions on movement and trade in the occupied West Bank and the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, as outlined in the report.

Stefan Emblad, the World Bank's director for the West Bank and Gaza, expressed his concerns, stating that fiscal constraints are burdening the Palestinian healthcare system, particularly in dealing with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

He highlighted that the lengthy, bureaucratic permit process imposed by Israeli authorities often makes it challenging to provide timely life-saving healthcare to Palestinians.

The report points out that access to external medical referrals for conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, and maternal and child birth complications is significantly hindered due to both physical and administrative constraints.

Gaza, in particular, faces critical challenges due to its limited healthcare capacity, with patients struggling to obtain necessary medical exit permits promptly.

The report also suggests that the near-blockade of Gaza has led to increased mortality rates, as some patients do not survive the protracted permit process.

Additionally, Israel's blockade on Gaza, in effect since 2007, has impeded the flow of medical supplies to the enclave, further exacerbating healthcare challenges.

The World Bank has called upon both Israel and Palestinian authorities to better manage medical cases and streamline the permit process to ensure timely healthcare assistance to patients and their accompanying companions.