A 28-year-old pregnant woman in the occupied West Bank delivered a stillborn baby inside an ambulance after being delayed at an Israeli military checkpoint, Palestinian health workers reported.
The woman, six months pregnant and unconscious with severe bleeding, was collected from her home in Qaryout village near Nablus. Medics immediately placed her on oxygen and rushed her to Rafidia hospital.
However, the ambulance encountered multiple obstacles en route. Access to a nearby village was blocked, forcing the vehicle to navigate dirt paths through olive groves. Upon reaching the Awarta checkpoint, the ambulance was stopped by Israeli soldiers who ordered the driver to turn off the siren and engine at gunpoint, despite the critical condition of the patient.
The medical team’s identity cards were confiscated, and the ambulance remained stranded for over 30 minutes. During this time, the accompanying nurse was compelled to deliver the baby inside the vehicle, but the infant was stillborn.
After the delay, the soldiers returned the identity cards and allowed the ambulance to proceed. Upon arrival at Rafidia hospital, the woman was immediately taken into surgery to control the bleeding. Hospital officials confirmed her condition stabilized following the operation.
Context of Increased Checkpoint Restrictions
The Israeli military has intensified counterterrorism operations across the West Bank, leading to numerous roadblocks and closures. These measures followed a deadly clash between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the village of Tell, resulting in multiple fatalities on both sides.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly, affecting civilian movement and access to emergency medical care.
