Israel blocks access to Gaza medical specialists

Israeli authorities recently blocked an orthopedic surgeon from entering Gaza, preventing him from providing vital treatment to children with disabilities. One of his patients, Mina, a 3-year-old girl with mobility problems, has been left without treatment for months.

Mina is one of many. Before October 2023, there were an estimated 98,000 disabled children in Gaza, and since then thousands more have been disabled by the Israeli regime’s use of explosive weapons; these children now require reconstructive surgery. Infants have had almost no access to healthcare for 15 months, posing a major challenge.

The Israeli army has been preventing medical specialists from entering Gaza without explanation despite a ceasefire in mid-January.

On the same day that Mina’s doctor was banned from entering Gaza, another orthopedic surgeon was also banned from entering the Strip. Mohammed Subah, an emergency physician who is trying to help reopen Al-Shifa Hospital and provide medical training, said he and his team, along with four other medical groups, were barred from entering Gaza.

Meanwhile, Victoria Rose, a plastic surgeon, said Israeli authorities barred her from entering Gaza on February 12. The occupiers again barred her entry the following week.

Rose had planned to provide reconstructive surgery and, like Mohammed Subah, train medical students.

Victoria Rose said that on February 12, when Israeli authorities denied her entry, the occupiers also denied entry to the Strip to two other plastic surgeons and an orthopedic surgeon.

Nabil Rana, a vascular surgeon, was denied entry to Gaza on February 23. Rana had received an initial entry permit more than a month earlier, but the occupiers gave him no explanation for denying him entry. This is a situation that many of his colleagues have also experienced.

The Israeli regime’s denial of entry to specialist doctors in Gaza exacerbates the cycle of violations of Palestinians’ right to health. Israeli authorities control entry and exit from Gaza.

Human Rights Watch wrote: “Israel’s allies should demand that it fulfill its responsibilities as the occupying power and allow health care workers into Gaza. Children like Mina deserve immediate care.”