Coordinated Action by Palestinian Organizations
A large-scale sit-in protest took place yesterday at the square outside the UNRWA hospital in Qalqiliya. The demonstration was organized by the PLO Department of Refugee Affairs, the Popular Committees for Refugee Services in West Bank camps, and the Union of Arab Workers in UNRWA in the West Bank. These groups acted in coordination with local figures from Qalqiliya, national factions, official and popular institutions, and the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions.
Demands for Immediate Reversal
The protesters gathered to reject the agency’s management direction toward closing the hospital. Their primary demands included an immediate retreat from this trend, the reopening of closed departments, and the preservation of health services. They also emphasized the need to protect the rights and job security of the workers employed there. Hundreds of citizens, refugees, and representatives from official, national, and popular bodies participated in the event.
Rhetoric on Health Infrastructure
Participants carried banners expressing their rejection of policies aimed at reducing health services. They warned against the serious repercussions of shutting down the facility, describing it as a historical medical and humanitarian landmark. Protesters characterized the hospital as a fundamental pillar in providing healthcare to Palestinian refugees.
Statements from Organizers and Representatives
Speakers at the rally included Nesreen Zouqan, director of the PLO Department of Refugee Affairs office in the northern West Bank; Abdul Rahim Jabr, head of the Popular Committee for Refugee Services in Qalqiliya; Muhammad Abu Kishk, head of the Popular Committee for the New Askar Camp; and Feisal Salama, head of the Popular Committee for Tulkarm Camp. Also addressing the crowd were Muhammad Khader, representing the governor of Qalqiliya; Abdul Karim Al-Hajj, president of the Union of Arab Workers in UNRWA; and Saeed Al-Zubaidi, representing the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions.
