Whether by law, social order, or culture, limitations on abortion continue to have support in many parts of the world, including within health care systems and among health care providers. Women seeking abortions in Occupied Palestine similarly face legal, social and procedural barriers that deprive them of dignity and force them into keeping unwanted pregnancies. Most Palestinians understand abortion as killing and associate it with a colonialist rather than a nationalist agenda. In this reading, Palestinians should oppose abortion as part of steadfast support for the national cause. Criminalization of abortion in Palestine and other violations of women’s health rights are forms of gender-based violence legitimized by society and the Palestinian Authority and reinforced by Israeli colonial aggression. This violence includes coercion of women seeking abortions, denial of resources and services, and infliction of harm. Even information about and access to prepregnancy emergency contraceptives are withheld. A reproductive justice approach...

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