Ref: 13/2014
Date: 12 February 2014
Date: 13:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns new Israeli measures that obstruct Gaza Strip patients’ travel to the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem. PCHR calls upon the international community to intervene immediately to stop such measures, which seriously affect the lives of hundreds of patients transferred to receive medical treatment in the Palestinian or the Israeli hospitals and increases the suffering of patients, whose treatment is not available in Gaza Strip hospitals. PCHR emphasizes that the right of Gazan patients to treatment is a fundamental right guaranteed by international law even in case of war. Thus, competent authorities must provide patients with access to medical treatment. Even more so since the Gaza Strip is under continuous closure and restrictions are imposed on the freedom of movement resulting in serious deterioration of health facilities and medical treatment in the Gaza Strip. PCHR believes that preventing patients from traveling and denying them access to hospitals in the West Bank and Israel sentences them to death in the absence of medical treatment being available in the Gaza Strip.

According to information obtained by PCHR from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Medical Coordination, on Tuesday, 11 February 2014, Israeli authorities informed the Ministry of Health- the Liaison and Coordination office about their decision to prevent Palestinian patients, who hold medical transfers marginalized with the sign of state of Palestine, from passing. Under this measure, 80 patients were prevented from travelling via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing and denied access to hospital outside the Gaza Strip to receive medical treatment necessary for their diseases. However, three patients in critical condition were allowed to pass though patients’ transfers have been marginalized with the State of Palestine for a year. These arbitrary Israeli measures increase the suffering of those patients and cause new obstacles for the patients including delays and cancellation of appointments.

Israeli authorities control Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, which is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip population to travel to the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem. Israeli forces make use of the crossing to blackmail patients and their companions. Ten patients were arrested in 2013.

In light of the above, PCHR:

1. Believes that the new Israeli measures are a serious violation of international humanitarian law and also constitute a form of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
2. Strongly condemns these arbitrary measures taken against patients and stresses the seriousness of targeting patients and making advantage of their need to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or the West Bank for political purposes. Medical treatment for patients is human par excellence and not political, so Israeli must stop finding excuses to obstruct patients’ medical treatment;
3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their obligations and responsibilities by taking immediate action to put an end to violations of the international humanitarian law committed by Israeli forces against the Palestinian civilians, including patients;
4. Demands guaranteeing the freedom of movement and travel of the Palestinian civilians from and to the West Bank, including Jerusalem, under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
5. Demands guaranteeing the respect for the right to health and abide by Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.