Gaza Strip’s only Planned Parenthood-affiliate clinic was reportedly destroyed by Israel Defense Force’s strikes.
The Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association wrote in an official statement:
“On 8 October, PFPPA’s only center in Gaza was destroyed following an Israeli airstrike to an adjacent building, completely cutting off their ability to offer healthcare to women who have already been systematically denied sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights by the Israeli occupation.”
The statement refused to mention anything regarding Hamas’s attacks.
“Over the past few days, we have watched in horror the escalating violence between Hamas armed fighters and Israeli Occupational forces, the loss of civilian lives and the targeting of health facilities,” the IPPF said.
Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF director-general, said the organization is “deeply concerned about civilians.
“Our local teams are now contingency planning to address not only the needs of those trapped in Gaza amid escalating violence, but also the more than five million Palestinians currently living under Israeli occupation who will require critical support to continue accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare,” Mr. Bermejo said in the Thursday statement.
BREAKING: The only Planned Parenthood facility in Gaza was destroyed in an air strike. pic.twitter.com/U1Irzzam6k
— Ben Zeisloft (@BenZeisloft) October 13, 2023
According to Article 8 of Palestinian Public Health Law, abortions are strictly illegal.
However, Live Action reported abortion pills have been known to be supplied by some PFPPA clinics in the region.
Watch
BREAKING: Planned Parenthood’s only clinic in Gaza was hit by an IDF airstrike pic.twitter.com/hosLHwUFMg
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2023
As Newsweek reported:
The Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association’s (PFPPA’s) only clinic in Gaza was destroyed after an Israeli airstrike hit an adjacent building.
On October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza.
As of Friday, the Associated Press reported that at least 2,800 people had been killed on both sides. The airstrike that impacted the PFPPA location in Gaza was fired on October 8.
PFPPA is a member of the IPPF, located in the West Bank areas of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Halhoul.
It also has the one location in Gaza. The U.S. member association to IPPF is the Planned Parenthood Federation, but the Gaza clinic is not operated by Planned Parenthood of America.
Following the Israel strikes, Planned Parenthood said the lack of medical provisions puts thousands of pregnant women at risk.
“Over 37,000 pregnant women will be forced to give birth with no electricity or medical supplies in Gaza in the coming months, risking life-threatening complications without access to delivery and emergency obstetric care services,” the IPPF said.
Ms. Awadallah added:
“Without clean water, food, basic medicines and vaccines, innocent women and newborn babies will continue to die.”
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