Ref: 7/2022

Date: 30 January 2022

Time: 11:49 GMT

On Saturday, 29 January 2022, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Israeli authorities have banned the import of new medical radiology devices for the Gaza Strip hospitals for several months, including stationary and mobile x-ray machines.  According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) follow-up, it was confirmed that the Israeli occupation authorities have banned the import of new medical devices necessary for radiology services in the Gaza Strip hospitals for 10 months.  The Israeli authorities also banned the import of spare parts necessary for the maintenance of many broken and out-of-service medical devices despite their importance in diagnosing diseases and treating patients.

Mr. Ibrahim ‘Abbas, Director of the Medical Imaging Department at MOH, stated to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli authorities repeatedly refused official requests to allow the entry of 8 stationary radiology devices and 6 other mobile machines into the Gaza Strip in addition to other medical devices necessary for patients’ healthcare at the hospitals.  ‘Abbas added that the occupation stalled in allowing their import over the past ten months, emphasizing that absence of such devices would affect the healthcare services provided to patients at intensive care units in hospitals as well as Covid-19 patients.  ‘Abbas stressed that such devices should be available at all the respiratory triage centers and inpatient departments at all hospitals.  He underscored that procurement of these devices has become a must, particularly after many of the available devices broke down and became out of service due to excessive use.

More than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip depend on governmental health facilities to receive health services. These healthcare facilities are already on the verge of collapse due to the Israeli-imposed closure for the last 15 years, and the situation exacerbated due to the repercussions of the Palestinian internal division and political bickering. All of this has resulted in a fragile healthcare system in the Gaza Strip, a perpetual shortage of essential drugs and medical devices and insufficient number of specialized health professionals; rendering the system unable to meet the basic medical needs of the Gaza Strip population in normal times.

PCHR warns of serious repercussions of the ongoing entry ban on essential medical devices into the Gaza Strip, necessary  for thousands of patients receiving health services at governmental hospitals. PCHR also stresses that the primary responsibility for providing medical supplies to the Gaza Strip population lies with Israel in accordance with Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

PCHR calls upon the international community and the WHO to pressure Israel and compel it to comply with its obligations, and to allow the entry of medical supplies into the Gaza Strip, especially radiology devices.