9:42 PM ET
Miri Weingarten [Coordinator oPt Department,
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel]: "PHR-Israel has been immersed in the crisis that has engulfed Gaza since the takeover by Hamas in June 2007, and the resultant closing by Israel of all crossing points to goods and persons. Patients who prior to June had the possibility of accessing Egypt for medical care found this way barred from the 9th of June, leaving the Erez Crossing the only point of exit for patients.
In order to enter Israeli hospitals or to cross Israel into medical centers in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or Jordan, patients are required to undergo elaborate, opaque and ever-multiplying bureaucratic procedures in order to procure an exit permit. Patients whose requests are rejected due to a “security prohibition” or whose requests are so delayed as to cause repeated re-scheduling of appointments apply to PHR-Israel for redress.
Since June, the number of patients’ applications from Gaza to PHR-Israel has increased dramatically. Whereas from January to May 2007 PHR-Israel fielded 20-40 applications each month, in June this figure increased to 60 per month, and in October a peak number of 160 applications was recorded.
Increases in negative or delayed responses correspond closely to Israeli policy decisions: The first increase corresponds to the closing of the Erez and Rafah Crossings while the second corresponds to the Israeli declaration of Gaza as a hostile entity and its declared decision to impose collective measures against the civilian population.
On the ground, PHR-Israel has met increasing difficulties in ensuring access to healthcare of Gaza patients who need care in external medical centers. Since September 2007, even life-threatening conditions have been refused exit repeatedly. Nine of the patients who applied to PHR-Israel have died while waiting for a permit.
In its work, PHR-Israel applies to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) as a last instance to ensure access of patients to medical care that is unavailable within Gaza. When analysed, the Court rulings are shown, overall, to echo deteriorating State policy. High Court judges voice attitudes ranging from total identification with State policies to confusion rather than courage:
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel]: "PHR-Israel has been immersed in the crisis that has engulfed Gaza since the takeover by Hamas in June 2007, and the resultant closing by Israel of all crossing points to goods and persons. Patients who prior to June had the possibility of accessing Egypt for medical care found this way barred from the 9th of June, leaving the Erez Crossing the only point of exit for patients.
In order to enter Israeli hospitals or to cross Israel into medical centers in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or Jordan, patients are required to undergo elaborate, opaque and ever-multiplying bureaucratic procedures in order to procure an exit permit. Patients whose requests are rejected due to a “security prohibition” or whose requests are so delayed as to cause repeated re-scheduling of appointments apply to PHR-Israel for redress.
Since June, the number of patients’ applications from Gaza to PHR-Israel has increased dramatically. Whereas from January to May 2007 PHR-Israel fielded 20-40 applications each month, in June this figure increased to 60 per month, and in October a peak number of 160 applications was recorded.
Increases in negative or delayed responses correspond closely to Israeli policy decisions: The first increase corresponds to the closing of the Erez and Rafah Crossings while the second corresponds to the Israeli declaration of Gaza as a hostile entity and its declared decision to impose collective measures against the civilian population.
On the ground, PHR-Israel has met increasing difficulties in ensuring access to healthcare of Gaza patients who need care in external medical centers. Since September 2007, even life-threatening conditions have been refused exit repeatedly. Nine of the patients who applied to PHR-Israel have died while waiting for a permit.
In its work, PHR-Israel applies to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) as a last instance to ensure access of patients to medical care that is unavailable within Gaza. When analysed, the Court rulings are shown, overall, to echo deteriorating State policy. High Court judges voice attitudes ranging from total identification with State policies to confusion rather than courage:
- In June, after PHR-Israel together with partner organization “Gisha” submitted an urgent petition to the HCJ demanding that the Erez Crossing be opened to patients in need of care unavailable in Gaza, the State responded that it no longer bore any legal responsibility toward the civilians of Gaza, that patients would be permitted entry as a “humanitarian gesture” only, and that only life-threatening conditions would merit permission. Danger of amputation or of the loss of an eye, for example, would be defined as endangering “quality of life” and not life itself, and therefore would not justify entry. In its ruling the Court questioned this distinction between life and limb, but did not intervene on behalf of the 26 patients in the petition, and refused to rule either on the policy of access to health care of patients from Gaza, or on the legal status of Gaza itself.
- In November, the cases of 11 patients in life-threatening condition were heard. Two separate hearings were held, delaying the court decision. While waiting for a ruling, 21-year-old cancer patient Nael El Kurdi died at home in Gaza. This did not persuade the Court to oblige the State to formulate a policy ensuring access of patients to medical centers outside Gaza.
- In December, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein ruled that “even a total criminal” had a right to access to care, if in urgent and life-threatening condition, and asked that the State examine the possibility of ensuring access to Egypt or to Jordan of several specific patients in life-threatening condition. He too refrained from addressing policy.
- In January 2008, the previous ruling was overturned by three judges, who reviewed the cases of 8 patients, all in urgent life-threatening condition, and “were persuaded that there are no grounds for our intervention in the decision of the Respondents to prevent the entry of these appellants into the territory of Israel.” (HCJ ruling 11105/07, 8.1.08).
- Less than a fortnight later, leukemia patient Amin Fayyad was also refused redress by the Court. Justices Prokatcha, Alon and Naor saw no grounds for intervention and suggested that his case be reviewed “by the end of February” (HCJ ruling 559/08, 22.1.08) – thus justifying a delay that could cost the patient his life.
Opinions expressed in JURIST's Hotline are the sole responsibility of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of JURIST's editors, staff, or the University of Pittsburgh.
SOURCE
Gaza Siege claims the lives of 83 patients, including 16 children
Saturday January 26, 2008 07:25
by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies
saed at imemc dot org 
Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Saturday at night that two patients died in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli Authorities barred them from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment abroad. A total of 83 Palestinian patients, including 16 children, died due to the ongoing Israeli siege and blockade over the coastal region.The Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported that resident Mislih Mohammad Qalja, and Fatin Majdi Al Hafnawi, 10, died on Saturday after being barred from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment.
The two latest casualties raise the number of patients who died in the Gaza Strip since several months to 82 residents.
Dozens of seriously ill patients are facing imminent death as Gaza Hospital ran out of medical supplies while the Israeli authorities are barring them from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment elsewhere.
The ages the residents who died due to the siege and lack of medical attention vary between several months old and 80 years old.
Following are the names of children who died due to the ongoing blockade;
1) Fatin Majdi Al Hafnawi, 10.
2) Ibrahim Abu Nahil, 1year and four months old.
3) Sana Mohammad Al Hajj, six months.
4) Rawan Diab, 13 months.
5) Hala Zannoun, 3 months.
6) Yousef Eyad Abu Mariam, 5 years.
7) Razan Mohammad Ata, 6 years.
8) Dua’ Hani Habeen, 5 months.
9) Ibrahim Abu Jazar, 2 years.
10) Shereen Abdullah Abu Shawarib, 10 years.
11) Hammad Maher Abu Hamda, 1.5 months.
12) Ameer Al Baziji, 9 years.
13) Nada Eyad Al Asgha, 13 years old.
14) Rawan Nassar, 15.
15) Dua’ Abed Amran, 18.
16) Mahmoud Nahedh Hussein, 14.
SOURCE
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