Israeli authorities granted approval to 81% of medical travel applications submitted by patients residing in the besieged Gaza Strip seeking treatment outside their war-torn region, as well as 75% of similar applications from the West Bank in July. These figures were reported by an international health organization.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) monthly health access report, focusing on barriers encountered by patients in the occupied Palestinian territory, revealed that out of 1,851 applications filed by patients in Gaza, only 1,492 individuals received the necessary permission to travel through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing. This authorization enabled them to access medical treatment in hospitals situated in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or even within Israel. The report was issued on Wednesday.
Within the Gaza applications, 27% pertained to minors under the age of 18, and 19% were for patients over the age of 60. Additionally, 46% were for female patients, with 84% of the applications funded by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The report highlighted that a mere 1% of total permit applications for Gaza patients, amounting to ten males and two females, were denied in July. Reasons for denial encompassed appointments across various medical disciplines, including oncology, internal medicine, neurology, general surgery, heart surgery, and ophthalmology. Among these, nine were destined for medical institutions in the West Bank outside East Jerusalem, while the remaining three were intended for East Jerusalem.
Furthermore, 19% of patients with Gaza permit applications, consisting of 230 males and 117 females, were denied access to care as they received no definitive response to their application prior to their scheduled hospital appointments.
The WHO also highlighted the discrepancy in approvals for West Bank-based Palestinian patients. Out of 8,678 applications for medical treatment in East Jerusalem or Israeli hospitals, only 6,477 were approved by Israeli authorities. This approval rate was 7% lower than the average for 2022.
Most patients from the occupied West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, are required to obtain permits to access medical facilities in East Jerusalem or Israel. Certain exemptions exist for women above the age of 50 and men above 55, although a portion of these individuals are subjected to restrictions on security grounds.
Of the West Bank patient permit applications in July, 52% were for female patients, 22% for children under 18, and 8% for patients over 60. About 67% of the applications were for appointments at East Jerusalem hospitals, while 33% sought treatment in Israeli hospitals or clinics.
The report emphasized that the West Bank’s approval rate has seen a gradual decline throughout the year and currently remains lower than that of the Gaza Strip.
The complex situation has emerged since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories in 1948, giving them control over Palestinian borders, including those governed by agreements backed by the international community for peaceful access.
Palestinians residing in the West Bank and Gaza have accused Israel of committing humanitarian offenses by contravening international laws designed to safeguard civilians, particularly women, children, and patients, against punitive measures.