Fatah-Hamas Conflict Leads to Disturbing Hospital Strike in Gaza
Infighting between militant political parties in the Palestinian territories has recently taken to a tragic new venue. As hostilities between the Palestinian West Bank-based Fatah party and rival Islamist faction Hamas continue to intensify, Gaza’s hospitals have emerged as an additional arena in which the two groups are able to engage one another using mutually destructive political tactics. The result is a remarkably callous display of disregard for civilian loss of life. A brief account of important events leading up to this point will help put this most recent escalation into context.
This phase of the ongoing Fatah-Hamas conflict stems directly from Hamas’ victory in the 2006 Palestinian National Authority legislative elections and its subsequent forceful armed takeover of Gaza in June 2007 – a week-long battle that left an estimated 161 Palestinians dead (including 41 civilians) according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. With Hamas establishing a separate government in Gaza and Fatah in control of the West Bank, the existence of two distinct Palestinian power structures essentially propelled the two parties into civil war.
Since that time, medical doctors operating in hospitals located throughout Gaza have made allegations that Hamas is abusing its authority. They claim that the leadership systematically removes qualified professionals from positions of power and replaces them with individuals supportive of Hamas in order to exert a larger sphere of influence.
Earlier this month, in retaliation for these politically motivated dismissals, hundreds of doctors throughout Gaza went on strike to protest Hamas’ actions, which they characterize as a severe abuse of power and unwarranted interference. In some hospitals, those participating in the strike comprise more than half of the medical staff. At the same time, Hamas politicians have leveled criticism against Fatah claiming that the West Bank-based government has been issuing ultimatums to doctors practicing in Gaza, threatening to stop paying the doctors’ salaries unless they participate in the strike (doctors’ salaries are financed by international funds over which Fatah has exclusive control). As a result, many doctors continuing to work in Gaza have had their salaries cut, while others comply with the order, thereby risking reprisal from the hostile ruling party. While accusations continue to fly back and forth between Hamas and Fatah, the groups have clearly dug in their heels, each side having adamantly committed to pursuing its objective.
Back in Gaza, the true impact of these recent developments is felt. Doctors working in extremely understaffed hospitals are simply unable to provide patients with proper medical care. Dr. Ahmed Shatat, who works in the neonatal intensive care division of a Gaza City hospital, makes the consequences obvious: “It’s very hard to work during this strike … of course, it affects the quality of service, our mortality rates have increased.” This hazard pertains especially to newborn babies who require constant attention from medical personnel. When one considers additional key issues such as the shortage of necessary equipment, fatigue from frequent double-shifts, and the circumstantial psychological pressures, it becomes clearer how prohibitively demanding this position really is for the doctors.
Now, while this political narrative plays out between two conflicting administrations, health concerns for the general public are pushed to the periphery, and innocent casualties continue to mount up. “These days, people may not be getting killed in the cross-fire of Fatah-Hamas gunfights on the streets of Gaza, as they used to, but the political wrangles are still hurting them…” writes BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool, “…For the population of the Gaza Strip, more than half of whom are under the age of 16, there is now a new dimension to their suffering.”
Paul Shapiro
