Israel's travel ban threatens cancer patients in Gaza
Though Israel is allowing some cancer patients to travel for treatment abroad, the many more whose permits have been denied say the move is for show.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel informed the Palestinian Authority June 3 of its decision to open the Erez-Beit Hanoun crossing for cancer patients to access life-saving treatment unavailable in the Gaza Strip. Israel closed its crossings with Gaza May 10 when it launched an offensive against the besieged enclave.
The fighting, which lasted for 11 days, ended with a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel on May 20. The latest escalation caused more than 1,900 injuries. But Israel continued to prevent patients from crossing the border for medical treatment.
A government source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity for security reasons that Israel opening the crossing for cancer patients is mere propaganda to help it avoid responsibility for the residents of the Gaza Strip. “Israel has only allowed access to 330 cancer patients out of 1,012” since the announcement, he said.
The source lamented, “There are many patients with life-threatening conditions who urgently need to travel for treatment, in addition to the large number of people injured during the latest escalation who cannot get the needed treatment in Gaza.”
