28 The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR in the area was seized on several occasions. Although they do not meet the needs of the local community, these clinics mostly deliver primary healthcare services to people with chronic diseases and to children. Of four health clinics, only two are in operation in Massafer Yatta, each with a surface area of 50 square metres only. While preventing any development of the area, Israeli occupying authorities impede medical operations, deny access for medical staff, and detain medics and medical vehicles, limiting capacity to provide medical services to the local population. Pressing needs for a healthcare system were compounded as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medics were also assaulted and not allowed to discharge their humanitarian and professional duties on time. Israeli violations and policies have generated the need for additional medical staff, resources, interventions, and services.21 In Area C, some 300,000 Palestinian residents of scattered small communities in Hebron have encountered difficulties in accessing primary healthcare services due to Israeli restrictions, military checkpoints, and lack of a public transportation system. Almost a third of these people rely on mobile clinics to receive medical attention.22 Israeli measures obstructed and delayed the entry of medical supplies and equipment into the oPt. For instance, for 14 months, the Israeli occupying authorities withheld a HPGe detector system that had to be used in the context of the MoH response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given as a grant by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), this mobile device should have been used at the Public Health Laboratory of the Nuclear Energy Department. However, 2021 ended without being able to receive the system. Two shipments of COVID-19 testing equipment arrived damaged after they had been withheld for an unduly long time. Sent by the IAEA, several shipments of medical devices and testing kits were held and delayed. Also, Israel delayed the entry of drugs donated by the World Federation of Haemophilia for the benefit of haemophilia patients. In addition to complex procedures, restrictions were placed on the transportation of medical supplies from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.23 Israeli policies and measures also resulted in an increased need for additional financial resources in view of already depleted funds. The volume of MoH cumulative debt mounted to some ILS 1.7 billion. Amid a shortage of specialised medical services, there was a growing need for trained personnel and further medical services to treat injured citizens, who were in need of additional blood units.24 The Israeli occupying authorities have maintained a policy of medical negligence, intentionally depriving Palestinian political prisoners of medical care and forestalling the provision of treatment to ill and wounded ones. The health condition of prisoners has worsened, particularly amid the prevalence of COVID-19, harsh prison environment, and poor health procedures. The Israeli Prison Service continued to subject prisoners to blackmail and extortion. As many as 600 ill political prisoners are in need of intensive medical care. Four prisoners developed cancer. Of these, the health condition of prisoner Nasser Abu Humeid is the worst. Fourteen (14) prisoners are with different stages of tumours. A most prominent instance of medical offences was that of prisoner Sami al‘Umour, who died on 18 November 2021. Al-‘Umour was repeatedly transported by the Bostah (a prisoner transport vehicle) and forced to wait for long hours before he would be admitted to hospital. In spite of his critical health condition, Al-‘Umour had to wait for 14 hours at the Bir as-Sabe’ Prison transfer station before he was taken to hospital. Additionally, Hussein Masalmeh succumbed to his serious health condition shortly after he was released. 21 Interview with Maria al-Aqra’, Director of the International Cooperation Unit, MoH, Ramallah, 10 January 2022. 22 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), 2021 Report. 24 Interview with Maria al-Aqra’, Director of the International Cooperation Unit, MoH, Ramallah, 10 January 2022. 23 Interview with Osama an-Najjar, MoH Spokesman, Ramallah, 9 January 2022. The Situation of Human Rights in Palestine