In punitive measure, Israel revokes Palestinian health benefits

Ramallah: Palestinians who defended Al Haram Al Sharif from Jewish raids are being punished by Israeli authorities by having their national health insurance benefits revoked.

Israeli occupation forces have denied dozens of Palestinian residents of occupied Jerusalem the right to health insurance benefits.

Fakhri Abu Diyab, who heads the local committee in defence of occupied Jerusalem, called the measure “racist”.

Last Thursday, the wife of a Palestinian murabit (defender), found out just before her surgery that her health insurance had been revoked. The family was forced to pay from their own pockets for the expensive surgery.

Palestinians living in occupied east Jerusalem hold blue identity cards and must pay taxes. The money goes towards benefits provided under Israeli law.

The revocation of the benefits of some Palestinians is the latest punitive measure taken by the Israeli regime.

The Murabiteen and Murabitat, men and women respectively, have played an important and effective role in deterring Jewish worshippers from raiding Al Haram Al Sharif, which houses the Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest in Islam.

The Israeli regime has since criminalised their activities, despite the fact that they have not used violence to confront the raids.

According to a five-decade-old status quo, Jews are allowed to visit the holy shrine but are not allowed to pray there.