18 February 2016
According to a new report from the World Health Organisation, permit approvals for patients seeking to leave Gaza through the Erez crossing into Israel reached their lowest rate in 7 years during December. In that month, only 67% of permits for patients – all seeking medical treatment in the West Bank or abroad – were approved. Seventy-seven patients had their permits denied, and 513 received no response to their applications. Approval rates have dropped 17% since May 2015.
With the Rafah crossing into Egypt – the only other exit from Gaza – only open to humanitarian cases for 26 days in the whole of 2015, patient access through Erez is vital to those requiring treatment outside of Gaza.
In the report, the WHO also highlighted the case of a 28-year-old health professional who was arrested at the crossing on the way to a medical training course in the West Bank, despite having a valid permit. Mohammed Abu-Jumaiza, an x-ray technician employed at the Al Quds hospital, was arrested on 13 December and held for 25 days before being released without charge or trial. He was travelling with a group of physicians, nurses and technician for a training on cardiac catheterisation.
You can read more about the challenges faced by Palestinian patients passing through Erez here.