A Palestinian woman gave birth to a stillborn baby inside an ambulance after reportedly being delayed by Israeli military personnel at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank on Monday. The incident occurred near the village of Qaryout, south of Nablus.

According to medic Bashar Qaryouti, the 28-year-old woman was six months pregnant and unconscious when health workers arrived to transport her to Rafidia hospital in Nablus. She was experiencing severe bleeding and was in critical condition. Medics placed her on oxygen and began the journey, but soon encountered closed roads and checkpoints.

Qaryouti said the ambulance was forced to take alternative dirt tracks through olive groves due to the closure of an entrance to a nearby village. Upon reaching the Awarta checkpoint, soldiers had closed the gate, causing a queue of vehicles to form. After moving to the front and activating the ambulance’s siren, Qaryouti reported that soldiers took about 10 minutes to respond, then ordered the vehicle to switch off. He said they forced him to comply at gunpoint and confiscated the crew’s identity cards.

As the ambulance remained stranded for over 30 minutes, the woman’s condition worsened. The accompanying nurse was compelled to deliver the baby inside the vehicle. The infant was stillborn. After this delay, the soldiers returned the crew’s identification and permitted the ambulance to proceed to the hospital.

At Rafidia hospital, the woman underwent surgery to stop her bleeding. Hospital director Fouad Nafaa stated that she had been “prevented by the Israeli army from reaching the hospital,” but her condition was stable following treatment.

The Israeli military has not publicly commented on the specific incident. However, it has launched an operation across the West Bank in recent days, resulting in several road closures. This military action came in the wake of a deadly clash last Friday in the village of Tell between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, which left two Israelis and four Palestinians dead.

Tensions and violence in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, have escalated sharply since the recent conflict in Gaza began. Palestinian health workers and local officials have criticized checkpoints and movement restrictions imposed by Israeli forces, citing their impact on medical emergencies and civilian access to healthcare. Israeli authorities have generally maintained that security measures, including checkpoints and roadblocks, are necessary to prevent violence and protect civilians.