77. Schnitzer, J. J. Development and Human Rights in the Gaza Strip and West Bank - Defending the Rights of the Poor: The Socio-economic Impact of the Oslo Agreements on the Lives of Palestinians in Gaza - Health. New York: Prepared for the Center for Economic and Social Rights, 1997: 124 pp.

In this report, the author provides a comprehensive assessment of the health status in the Gaza Strip. This includes a description of Gaza's health care system prior to 1967 as well as the impact of the Intifada on an already stressed health care system. The author provides concrete data supporting the hypothesis that despite Israel's claims to having improved health conditions in Gaza, Israeli military rule fostered health conditions that caused the health of the Gazan population to lag behind those in Israel and other Arab countries from 1967-1993. Four failures in health care are mentioned, directly attributable to Israeli policies: 1) restrictions on health care services, 2) neglect of the public health infrastructure, 3) low levels of public expenditure on health care, and 4) lack of health care planning. The report goes on the assess the performance of the Palestinian Authority in health care post-Oslo. Keeping in mind that little time has elapsed since the PA took over health care and the lack of data, the author describes both positive and negative observations of the PA's role in providing health care. The observations are made considering the impact of closures and international aid on implementing health policies. In conclusion, the author provides eleven recommendations for the development of a sustainable health care sector in Palestine with a focus on Gaza. These include issues related to human resource development and coordination and collaboration between the various health care sectors.