جامعة النجاح الوطنية
An-Najah National University

You are here


Dr. Oqab Jabali and Dr. Abed Alkarim Ayyoub from the Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences at An-Najah National University have recently published a significant research study titled “Navigating health challenges: the interplay between occupation-imposed movement restrictions, healthcare access, and community resilience” in the international journal BMC Public Health. This journal is issued by Springer, boasting an impact factor of 4.5 and indexed in the Scopus database.


The research delves into the profound negative health impacts arising from the movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation on Palestinian roads in the West Bank and explores the broader implications for societal resilience. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study gathered insights from university employees to identify health problems caused by the Israeli military checkpoints that fragment the West Bank.

Key findings of the research highlight both physical and psychological issues, including miscarriages and fatalities, resulting from delays in receiving timely medical treatment due to prolonged waits at these checkpoints. The study underscores the severe challenges posed by roadblocks, checkpoints, and military incursions, which collectively hinder Palestinians' access to essential healthcare services, thereby adversely affecting their overall health and well-being.

Dr. Jabali and Dr. Ayyoub emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within the Palestinian health and transportation systems. Their recommendations include significant investments by the Palestinian Authority in public transportation and community resilience programs, particularly in villages frequently subjected to settler attacks. Enhancing infrastructure and healthcare access is crucial to mitigating transportation-related health issues and improving the quality of life for Palestinian communities.

This groundbreaking research offers vital insights and a compelling call to action for policymakers and international stakeholders to address the health and humanitarian challenges faced by Palestinians under occupation.


© 2025 An-Najah National University