The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is impacting communities in Israel, Gaza and around the world – but some people are affected more than others, including people with disabilities.
The Jerusalem Press Club and the Mizrachi Family Charitable Foundation recently hosted a panel that discussed the impact of war on disabled people in Israel and what is being done to alleviate some of the challenges they face. The panel included people with lived experience and disability rights experts.
Moderator Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, co-founder of the Mizrahi Family Charitable Foundation, said that more than 200,000 Israelis from diverse backgrounds, including Mizrahi, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, Christians, Muslims, Arabs and Druze, have been forced to flee their homes. Of those displaced, 17% are disabled, and 50% live with multiple disabilities. Essential daily routines are now a distant memory, with many forced to leave essential equipment behind and accessing proper medical care and treatment much more difficult.
The speakers outlined the challenges facing persons with disabilities in Israel:
Difficulty accessing necessary amenities. Hotel showers are often unavailable or beds are not at the right height. Difficulty getting medical treatment that was previously available consistently, or even impossible. Difficulty evacuating. Bomb shelters may be inaccessible to people with physical disabilities. Sirens may not be heard by deaf or hard of hearing people. Navigating unfamiliar areas is also particularly difficult for people with visual impairments or developmental disabilities looking for a safe place. Not receiving the same level of care from family and caregivers. Some of the caregivers are currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces, while others were killed. Disability infrastructure was destroyed. The building in Ashkelon that houses Israel Elwin, an Israeli nonprofit that provides services and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Israel, was also destroyed. Added psychological distress, especially affecting those with mental illness. Lack of access to education, as many special needs schools have been closed. Diminishing resources as part of the social welfare budget has been redirected to national security.
Many people are working to create appropriate solutions to these challenges, but there is still much to be done.
Ayala Davidowitz is director of strategic partnerships, external relations and resource development for JDC Unlimited. Davidowitz said JDC quickly pivoted after Oct. 7 and worked with partners to address immediate needs, such as providing mental health assistance. Now, JDC’s community caseworkers are reaching out to as many civilians as possible to determine their needs. “We aim to expand diverse interventions and services for people with disabilities and are always looking to learn about innovative solutions and best practices,” Davidowitz said.
Dr. Tali Marcus, executive director of Bizchut, the Israeli Center for Disability Human Rights, also spoke of the need for immediate action. Bizchut has sent letters to the Red Cross and the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, urging them to pressure Hamas to release the hostages, especially those with disabilities. “Israel has never dealt with a civilian issue on such a large scale before, and people with disabilities are at greater risk,” Dr. Marcus said. People around the world can circulate these letters and help increase international pressure on Hamas.
Rachel Harmatta, who moved to Beersheba from the United States, is a disability advocate who works at a licensed medical cannabis processing plant in Kiryat Gat. Harmatta continued that she is glad she moved to Israel, despite living in a war zone. Though she has never been evacuated and has been able to maintain her daily routine, she said her hometown is “a place of comfort for many people, and not knowing when we will be able to go home is unsettling.” One challenge that directly impacts her community as an immigrant is the lack of support available in English. She said that while she learned Hebrew when she arrived in Israel, not all emergency communication methods are available to those who only speak English, creating additional challenges. Despite the challenges she faces as an immigrant and as a disabled person in this war, she emphasized that “this experience has made me a stronger person. I am blessed to be here.”
BizKat president Yoav Kreim, a former disabled person, said Israel “has to think about providing community services not only in wartime but also in peacetime. There are many emergency situations in Israel and we can organize quickly, but we need to establish very good services in peacetime to be prepared for emergencies.”
In the best of circumstances, the voices of people with disabilities can go unheard. Now, as communities and governments focus on meeting the basic needs of displaced people, their voices may go even more unheard. This makes it even more important that we continue to highlight their voices and work with them to meet their needs.