Viva Salud strongly condemns the arrest of Dr Mazen Rantisi, Chair of the Board of Health Work Committees (HWC), and Mr Tayseer Abu Shalbak, HWC’s Financial Director, by Israeli forces on 21 June 2026, as well as the military order closing HWC’s headquarters in Ramallah for one year. Viva Salud is particularly concerned about the health and well-being of both Dr Mazen Rantisi and Tayseer Abu Shalbak. Both men have pre-existing health conditions that require regular medical follow-up and access to appropriate care. Their detention therefore raises further humanitarian concerns.
Health Work Committees is one of the leading Palestinian health and development organisations. Since its establishment in 1985, HWC has provided essential health services to Palestinian communities through its network of clinics and health programmes, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups. In addition to providing healthcare, HWC actively advocates for the social, economic and political rights of Palestinians, as well as for the right to health under Israeli occupation and apartheid.
Viva Salud has worked in partnership with HWC since 1997. What began as cooperation on school health programmes in East Jerusalem has evolved into a long-standing partnership promoting the right to health, youth participation and social mobilisation. Over the years, HWC has become an important partner in programmes supported by Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) and other international donors. Together, our organisations have worked to strengthen citizens’ participation and defend the right to health in Palestine.
The arrest of two senior HWC representatives and the closure of the organisation’s headquarters raise serious concerns about the future of its activities and the continuity of services provided to Palestinian communities. These measures also contribute to a broader an atmosphere of pressure and restrictions affecting Palestinian civil society organisations and health institutions.
This is not the first time HWC has been targeted. In recent years, the organisation has faced raids, the confiscation of equipment, closure orders and the detention of staff members. The current measures therefore form part of a worrying pattern of actions affecting organisations that provide essential services and support to Palestinian communities.
Viva Salud stands in full solidarity with HWC, its staff, volunteers, patients and the communities it serves.
We call for:
- The immediate and unconditional release by Dr Mazen Rantisi and Tayseer Abu Shalbak;
- The immediate lifting of the closure order imposed on HWC’s head office;
- The protection of Palestinian healthcare workers, health institutions and civil society organisations from arbitrary measures and harassment;
- Continued support from the international community, including Belgium and the European Union, for Palestinian health and civil society organisations;
- Respect for the right to health and for the vital role played by organisations providing healthcare and social services to Palestinian communities.
For nearly thirty years, Viva Salud has witnessed HWC’s commitment to providing healthcare and defending the right to health under extremely difficult circumstances. We will continue to stand alongside our partners and support their efforts to ensure that all Palestinians can enjoy their fundamental right to health, dignity and self-determination.
