Gaza: Director General of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza Strip, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, stated that the Israeli occupation army intentionally obstructs the transfer of patients via the Rafah Border Crossing and only allows the travel of a few numbers of people in contravention of the terms outlined in the ceasefire deal.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Barsh emphasized that the number of patients who are allowed to travel is less than 50 of 150 patients who were previously allowed to exit on daily basis, given the substantial number of injured and those who needed to be treated abroad.
The travel hiccups are alarming as some of patients receive the travel approval from the Israeli side, but on their travel day the patients and their escorts are informed that their travel has been denied, something that impedes the travel process and ultimately, they are forced to pay the entire travel fee whether it is canceled or delayed, he highlighted.
The Israeli occupation army so far denied the travel of a 16-year-old kid suffering from cancer and rejected the travel of another one escorting a patient suffering from cancer, Dr. Al Barsh added.
Dr. Al Barsh asserted that the Israeli occupation forces drag their feet in enforcing the humanitarian protocol attached to the ceasefire deal, particularly the terms related to humanitarian and medical aspects, including denying the access of fuel and electric generators, as well as hospital's medical devices.
He pointed out that sick and injured kids and elderly people are facing the threat of death due to blocking the access of the ministry's essentials.
The number of casualties due to the direct Israeli bombardment, since the ceasefire deal took effect on Jan.19, 2025, climbed to 93 martyrs and 822 wounded, Dr. Al Barsh warned, adding that Palestinians were martyred due to explosive devices left by the Israeli occupation forces, with the number of martyrs succumbing to their injuries surging to 24, bringing the total count to 119 martyrs since the enforcement of the ceasefire.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Al Barsh called on all international entities to step up pressure on Israel to live up to its obligations and implement the humanitarian protocol to ameliorate the exacerbating humanitarian suffering caused by the Israeli offensive, which has disrupted the operations of hospitals.
