Abdullah Abu Shawesh, Palestinian Ambassador to India, warned on Thursday, 13 August that the public health system across Gaza and the West Bank is on the verge of total collapse, citing acute medicine shortages, postponed surgeries, and the absence of any ceasefire agreement. Speaking in New Delhi, Shawesh painted a grim picture of conditions on the ground, underscoring what he described as a humanitarian emergency with no immediate resolution in sight.

Health System in Free Fall

'The whole entire health system in Palestine is on the brink of collapse,' Shawesh said. 'Thousands of surgeries have been postponed and we are short of hundreds of different types of tablets and medicine.' He noted that fewer than two months ago he had already flagged that approximately 11,000 surgeries had been postponed — a figure that has since grown further as supply chains remain severed and medical personnel operate under conflict conditions.

The ambassador stressed that the crisis is not confined to Gaza. The West Bank, he said, is enduring tens of terror attacks daily, compounding pressure on an already overstretched healthcare infrastructure. Children, he added, have been killed in the Gaza Strip amid the continuing hostilities.

UNSC Briefings Highlight Deepening Crisis

Shawesh drew attention to two briefings held at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) just days before his remarks, which he said underscored the severity of conditions facing Palestinians in both territories. 'Two very important briefings highlighted the miserable situation that the Palestinians are enduring, whether it is in Gaza or in the West Bank, and stressed that there was no ceasefire,' he said.

This comes amid a broader diplomatic stalemate. Negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal have repeatedly stalled, with mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States struggling to bridge gaps between Israeli and Hamas positions.

Background: The Conflict's Origins

The current conflict was triggered by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in over 200 individuals being taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a sustained military campaign in Gaza with the stated objective of eliminating Hamas.

In a video message shared on Facebook on 4 August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would not withdraw 'from our current lines' in Gaza 'until Hamas is completely disarmed,' according to The Times of Israel.

Political Dimension: Israeli Elections

Shawesh alleged that the approaching Israeli elections — less than three months away — are shaping military conduct on the ground. 'Everyone knows that the fuel for the Israeli election is the Palestinian blood,' he said, arguing that the current Israeli government has an incentive to prolong conflict to maintain its political standing. He referred to Prime Minister Netanyahu as 'the fugitive from justice,' a reference to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). These remarks represent the ambassador's personal characterisation and not an established legal finding.

India's Independence Day and Palestinian Solidarity

Shawesh also drew a parallel between India's Independence Day and the Palestinian aspiration for statehood. 'This is a great day not only for the Indian people, but for us Palestinian people too, who are motivated by India's independence struggle,' he said. 'One day, we will gain our freedom like how you gained decades ago.' The remarks came as India marked its 78th Independence Day on 15 August.

With no ceasefire in place and the humanitarian situation continuing to deteriorate, international pressure on all parties to resume negotiations is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead.