Ref: 94/2007

Date: 16 August 2007

Time: 11:30 GMT

Palestinian Dies after being Prevented from Leaving Gaza for Follow Up Treatment: PCHR Strongly Condemns Barring Patient from Traveling

PCHR condemns Israel’s continued violation of Palestinians’ health rights by preventing and obstructing their treatment in Israeli hospitals, which has inflicted damage on tens of patients from the Gaza Strip. In particular, the Centre condemns Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) rejection on 6 August 2007 to allow Ali Shehada Khalaf Eleyan (52) to access Ichilov Hospital in Israel for follow up treatment. As a result, the patient died on 15 August 2007.

The Centre had asked the Physicians for Human Rights – Israel in a letter dated 13 August 2007 to intervene with relevant parties. The letter asked for attaining Israeli approval allowing the patient and his companion to enter Israel out of concern over the possible deterioration of his health condition.

Eleyan had undergone a cancer-related operation in Ichilov Hospital in Israel in January 2006. And on 25 July 2007 he received an open appointment from the hospital for follow up treatment. And on 1 August 2007, Eleyan applied for a permit to enter Israel for treatment. But on 6 August, IOF rejected his application. Eleyan applied a second time on 9 August; but he did not receive any reply to the second application.

The continuation of Israel’s denial of Palestinian health rights by preventing their access to hospitals through indiscriminate siege and movement restrictions makes Israel fully responsible for the lives of tens of patients deprived of their health rights, and subject to subsequent damage and suffering.

PCHR condemns denying Eleyan access to Ichilov Hospital for follow up treatment, which led to his death. The Centre stresses the importance of the intervention of relevant parties to force Israel to respect International Humanitarian Law, to stop collective punishment, and to allow Palestinian patients to move freely to access suitable healthcare facilities.