Israel occupation government denies medical treatment to Gaza Strip residents

Date: 04 / 10 / 2007 Time: 14:36

Gaza – Ma'an –

Physicians for Human Rights reported on Friday that Israeli officials are allowing only those Palestinians with life-threatening injuries to enter Israel for treatment. Injuries that may result in the loss of a limb are not considered serious enough.

Of 44 requests to transfer wounded Palestinians into Israel, the physicians told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, 16 were refused by Israeli authorities in Israel.

The minister of health in the de facto government warned on Thursday that a humanitarian disaster is looming in the Gaza Strip because supplies of 470 essential medicines will run out within a week.

Basim Na'im, the Health Minister in the deposed Hamas cabinet, said Israel has deliberately prevented food and medical supplies from reaching the Gaza Strip. He also blamed the international community for what he said was "negligence" in allowing the siege of the Gaza Strip to continue.

Na'im said certain patients' suffering is "increasing daily" because they are not allowed to leave Gaza to receive treatment abroad.

***Updated 5 October 16:11 Jerusalem Time***

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