Bearing Witness: Physicians for Human Rights Israel Amid War and Atonement
As the Jewish calendar turns to a season of forgiveness and atonement, the stark reality in Gaza tells another story — one of destruction, displacement, and famine. Against this backdrop, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) continues its urgent work documenting violations, supporting vulnerable communities, and advocating for systemic change.
Testimonies from Gaza
PHRI has been gathering and analyzing testimonies from displaced women in Gaza who experienced pregnancy and childbirth under conditions of starvation, destroyed infrastructure, and lack of access to healthcare. These accounts reveal unimaginable suffering, raising questions of survival that resonate deeply with families everywhere. Documenting and sharing these stories remains critical in exposing the human cost of war.
Deaths in Custody
In parallel, PHRI is documenting the alarming number of Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody since October 7 — now approaching 100 cases. The causes range from violent injuries and medical neglect to harsh detention conditions. In many cases, families may never learn how their loved ones were taken from them.
Support for Status-less Women
PHRI’s Open Clinic continues to serve women without residency or citizenship in Israel, including those seeking pregnancy terminations. A forthcoming position paper will call for systemic reforms to ensure that the public healthcare system provides these essential services. For many of these women, who face daily survival struggles and past traumas, access to such care is a matter of dignity and justice.
A Call for Solidarity
PHRI emphasizes the urgent need for international attention, support, and advocacy. As Deputy Director Lee Caspi wrote: “We need you at our side in this new year, as darkness continues to close in on us, so we can continue bringing forward the victims’ voices and demand justice, care, and compassion.”
Support their work: Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI)