Palestinian Woman Miscarried After Israeli Forces Blocked Ambulance at West Bank Checkpoint
A pregnant Palestinian woman miscarried after Israeli forces blocked an ambulance transporting her to hospital in the northern West Bank, medics said. The ambulance was blocked by Israeli forces at a closed gate near Awarta after taking detours through agricultural tracks because nearby village entrances were shut.
Ambulance Blocked at Awarta Checkpoint
A paramedic who accompanied the patient said the ambulance reached the Awarta checkpoint where a metal gate was closed, forcing the vehicle to stop. Soldiers ordered the crew to turn off the ambulance and confiscated the identification documents of the medical team, according to the medic.
The paramedic said he repeatedly warned that the patient was unconscious and bleeding heavily, and that the medical devices powering oxygen and monitoring systems required continuous power. He said soldiers threatened him with a weapon before instructing him to shut down the vehicle.
Paramedic Account of Events and Timeline
Bashar Quryuti, the medic who described the incident to reporters, said he had picked up the 28-year-old woman in her sixth month of pregnancy from her home in the village of Qaryut south of Nablus. He said the woman was unconscious and receiving oxygen and other life-support measures while en route to Rafidia Governmental Hospital.
Quryuti said the ambulance had already taken agricultural tracks through olive groves to bypass a separate closure at the entrance to the nearby village of al-Sawiya. After arriving at Huwara and approaching the Awarta checkpoint, the crew encountered the closed gate and waited for military personnel to respond.
Medical Staff Say Patient Deteriorated Inside Vehicle
Medics reported that while the ambulance remained stationary, the woman’s condition worsened as life-support devices stopped when the vehicle was ordered to be turned off. A nurse in the ambulance assisted the woman when she began to bleed, and the patient subsequently miscarried inside the vehicle, according to the medic’s account.
After more than 30 minutes during which the crew said they were prevented from moving, soldiers allowed the ambulance to continue. The medic said the delay and the forced shutdown of medical equipment directly affected the woman’s condition.
Hospital Confirms Stabilisation and Controlled Bleeding
Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus received the patient after the ambulance was permitted to pass, and hospital officials reported they had arrested the bleeding and stabilised her condition. Fuad Naffa, the hospital director, confirmed to local reporters that the woman remained in stable condition following emergency treatment.
Hospital staff said the patient’s life had been secured but did not provide further medical details. The miscarriage was recorded as having occurred during the transfer, and clinicians continued to monitor the woman for complications linked to heavy bleeding.
Route Disruptions and Impact on Emergency Response
The ambulance driver’s decision to travel on agricultural roads underscores how road closures and checkpoint controls are altering emergency routes in parts of the West Bank. Medics and residents have reported needing to use unpaved tracks to reach hospitals when primary access points are blocked by security measures.
Such diversions can lengthen transit times and complicate the provision of critical medical care, particularly for obstetric emergencies that require continuous monitoring and uninterrupted power for support devices. Emergency responders say delays of even a few minutes can have severe consequences for both mother and fetus in high-risk cases.
Calls for Unhindered Medical Passage
Medical personnel and local officials emphasised the need for unhindered, rapid passage for ambulances at checkpoints to prevent similar incidents in the future. They argued that permitting immediate transit for emergency vehicles is essential to protect lives and to ensure medical teams can maintain continuous treatment during transfers.
Witnesses and health workers called for clearer protocols and coordination to guarantee that ambulances en route to hospitals are identified and allowed to proceed without prolonged interruptions. The incident renewed appeals from health advocates for safeguards that prioritise urgent medical transport amid ongoing security procedures.
The patient remains under observation at Rafidia Governmental Hospital, where clinicians report she is stable and that steps have been taken to manage her recovery.