Israel has stopped six medical NGOs from going into Gaza‚ the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. The WHO didnt get any reason for this decision which was told to them in the last two weeks.
Glia and the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) two of the banned groups‚ said the WHO told them about this recently. These groups have been working in Gaza for many years before the current conflict.
The WHO is worried about how this will affect Gazas weak healthcare system. Only 17 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are still working and the need for healthcare is much more than what the system can give. The WHO wants EMTs (emergency medical teams) to be allowed into Gaza quickly and for aid to be given all over the area.
COGAT‚ the Israeli military group that manages aid in Gaza‚ didnt say anything when asked about this.
The U.S. government recently told Israel it might stop giving military help if Israel doesnt let more aid into Gaza within a month.
Israel only lets a small number of aid workers into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It hasnt let journalists go into Gaza freely during the year-long conflict. Since taking control of the Rafah crossing to Egypt in May‚ Israel has been in charge of all movement in and out of Gaza. Palestinians cant leave Gaza except in rare cases when they need medical help.
Health-care workers are some of the only international observers that have witnessed acts that amount to war crimes in Gaza
Gucciardo also thinks that not letting international healthcare workers in might be done on purpose to stop international observers from being in Gaza.
Even though hospitals should be protected by international law‚ they have been attacked many times in Gaza. Aid groups say hospitals have been hit by airstrikes medical teams have been shot at healthcare workers have been killed and medical shelters have had to leave. Israel says its targeting Hamas fighters hiding in medical centers but healthcare workers say this isnt true.
Before this‚ the WHO said Israel had stopped two of its partner groups from going into Gaza in August and September. Before that only some team members were stopped not whole groups.
Majdi Hamarshi from PAMA said this ban is very sad. PAMA has worked in Gaza for 10 years helping children with hearing or vision problems training local doctors and giving scholarships to medical students
Israel has also made it hard to bring basic medicines and medical supplies into Gaza. The Washington Post said in April that Israel had stopped things like crutches anesthetics and field hospital boxes from entering Gaza at least once