The only Planned Parenthood-affiliated clinic in Gaza was rendered unusable after an adjacent building was destroyed in an Israeli air strike targeting Hamas. The clinic, operated by the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA), served as the local member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Gaza. In a statement, PFPPA reported that their center was destroyed on October 8th as a result of the Israeli airstrike on the neighboring building.
The organization criticized the destruction of the clinic, arguing that women in Gaza already face limited access to sexual and reproductive health care and rights due to the Israeli occupation. They emphasized that the recent Israeli strikes against Hamas have further cut off their ability to provide services. The PFPPA’s center was destroyed shortly after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israeli border towns, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many civilians.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have responded to the attacks by targeting senior Hamas officials and commanders, as well as infrastructure associated with the group. The IDF stated that their goal is to eliminate Hamas’ ability to harm Israeli civilians. They have also warned Gaza civilians in the northern area to evacuate to the south, as they anticipate ground military operations in the coming days.
The PFPPA’s statement criticized Israel’s decision to block the entry of essential supplies, including food, water, fuel, and medical items, following Hamas’ attack. They highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, with limited access to electricity and hospitals overwhelmed by injuries from the bombardment. The organization called for urgent humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, expressing concern for the safety of the 37,000 pregnant women in the region.
Ammal Awadallah, the executive director of the clinic, expressed her worry about the women and newborn babies in Gaza during these challenging circumstances. She mentioned that the clinic had become unusable, making it increasingly difficult to provide referrals to hospitals. In a video posted by IPPF, the aftermath of the destruction was shown.
The IPPF Director-General, Alvaro Bermejo, expressed deep concern for civilians affected by the recent attacks and the loss of civilian lives. The organization’s local teams are actively planning to support women trapped in Gaza and the millions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation who require critical sexual and reproductive health care. Abortion is illegal under Hamas rule unless it is an emergency to save the mother’s life. Some women reportedly travel to Israel for legal abortions.
The PFPPA, established in Jerusalem in 1964, aims to address the reproductive health needs of Palestinians in Gaza.