Gaza Strip – Recent unrest along the volatile Gaza Strip boundary has led medics to report a concerning surge in protesters sustaining injuries seemingly targeted at their ankles by Israeli forces, raising questions of potential unlawful actions.
Since mid-September, demonstrations, spearheaded by groups of young men who, at times, engaged in stone-throwing and Molotov cocktail-lobbing, have unfolded, resulting in at least one fatality and numerous injuries.
These protests ostensibly emerged in response to increased visits by Jewish groups to Jerusalem’s sensitive al-Aqsa compound, ongoing Israel Defence Forces (IDF) raids against armed Palestinian cells in the occupied West Bank, and the economic hardships stemming from the enduring Israeli-Egyptian siege of Gaza, which has persisted for 16 years.
An uneasy calm has settled in the Gaza Strip, marked by the reopening of border crossings for workers entering Israel on September 29. This development followed mediation efforts by the United Nations, Egypt, and Qatar. Hazem Qasem, a spokesperson for Hamas, the Islamist militant group that has held sway in the region since 2007, emphasized the Gaza population’s desire for peaceful, dignified lives. However, he cautioned that further unrest could arise if conditions remain unmet.
Al-Awda hospital in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, is currently tending to seven individuals still undergoing treatment for bullet wounds to their ankles, a medical challenge described as exceedingly complex by Dr. Jean Pierre, a medical activity manager for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Gaza. Ankle injuries are notably intricate to treat due to the joint’s weight-bearing function. Addressing such injuries often necessitates intricate grafting procedures known as ‘free flap’ surgeries, with outcomes uncertain in terms of restored mobility. In cases of failure, amputation frequently becomes an inevitable outcome.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement addressing the recent developments, asserting that the Hamas terror organization had orchestrated violent riots along the border fence with the intent of harming Israeli security forces. The IDF maintained that live fire was employed only after all other alternatives had been exhausted and only in response to imminent threats.
These occurrences bear resemblance to the “Great March of Return” protests that commenced in 2018 and persisted for nearly two years. During these weekly demonstrations at separation fences, 227 Palestinians lost their lives, with approximately 60% of the thousands of injuries resulting from sniper fire affecting the lower limbs, according to the local health ministry. This situation overwhelmed an already beleaguered healthcare system, with amputees reliant on crutches becoming a common sight.
In response, MSF established a new prosthetics clinic for Gaza residents and a limb reconstruction center at al-Awda hospital. Nevertheless, the capacity to treat those in need remains limited, with the current facility only able to assist a small fraction of individuals requiring medical attention.
The ongoing unrest at the Gaza Strip poses considerable challenges to Israel, which, since Hamas’s ascension to power over the 42-square-kilometer (16-square-mile) enclave, has engaged in four wars and multiple smaller conflicts with the area’s ruling faction and other active groups. The consequences of these confrontations have been dire for Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants. The region’s residents endure severe restrictions on movement, compounded by the deterioration of healthcare, electricity, sanitation, and essential infrastructure as a result of Israel’s blockade.
Israel has incrementally expanded work permits for Gaza residents, incentivizing calm in order to alleviate the area’s dire economic circumstances and resulting unrest. Gaza’s unemployment rate has hovered at approximately 50% for years, with more than half the population living below the poverty line.
An estimated 18,500 individuals from Gaza are eligible to work in Israel, contributing approximately £2 million to Gaza’s economy daily. The recent 12-day border closure, imposed in response to the protests, was deeply felt by many families and businesses. Israel now confronts the challenge of demonstrating to Hamas the financial consequences of instigating unrest in the West Bank while maintaining peace in Gaza.
Hamas recently announced salary cuts for 50,000 civil servants, attributing the reduction to a shift in pledged aid from Qatar. Discussions with Doha regarding funding are ongoing. A recent International Monetary Fund report underscored that the lifting of the blockade and the relaxation of Israeli-imposed restrictions are essential prerequisites for any sustainable, long-term economic recovery in Gaza.