A press statement by the Ministry of Health 

on the continued prevention by the Israeli occupation forces to allow the entry of the diagnostic medical devices to Gaza hospitals

The Israeli occupation forces has been preventing the entry of diagnostic medical devices and oth necessary equipment to Gaza Strip hospitals, exacerbating the suffering of the patients and banning them from their most basic rights to treatment, which are guaranteed by international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The Israeli occupation forces continues its crimes against humanity, the latest of which is depriving the Gazan patients of the diagnostic services, as it has been banning the entry of important interventional and diagnostic devices needed for hospitals in Gaza for 394 days in a row, as follows:

• The Israeli occupation forces bans the entry of interventional catheter devices that help medical staff save stroke patients from being exposed to death and paralysis.

• The Israeli occupation forces bans the entry of four mobile C-arm X-ray machines that enable the diagnosis of bones and fractures inside operating theatres.

• The Israeli occupation forces bans the entry of three digital X-ray machines which enable the diagnosis of hundreds of medical conditions.

• The Israeli occupation forces bans the entry of a mobile X-ray machine which enable the diagnosis and imaging of the patients in the ICUs and the patients in other wards, who cannot move due to aging, and complex fractures.

• The Israeli occupation forces bans the entry of spare parts needed for repairing diagnostic medical devices and other equipment which got broken and out of service and are accumulated in Gaza hospitals, thereby depriving thousands of patients from receiving the services of these devices.

Based on the above, the Ministry of Health emphasizes on the following:

First: All the appeals to allow the entry of the diagnostic medical devices have been fulfilled by the supplying companies to ensure that these devices can easily and rapidly be transferred to Gaza hospitals.

 Second: The Israeli occupation forces is totally rejecting the entry of the diagnostic medical devices and spare parts for the devices that are broken, using unjustifiable procrastination methods.

 Third: Banning the entry of these devices to Gaza hospitals exposes the patients to health risks because these devices help identify health problems and the required medical interventions.

 Fourth: The Israeli occupation forces deliberately causes harm to Gaza patients and denies their rights to treatment, which are guaranteed by international humanitarian law. Therefore, it bears the full responsibility for the lives of the patients, as it is obliged to provide them with what is necessary for their treatment.

 Fifth: The Ministry of Health calls upon all relevant parties to put direct pressure on the Israeli occupation forces, so as to allow the entry of the diagnostic medical devices and spare parts for the broken devices, and help save the lives of the patients by providing them with their full medical needs.

Palestinian Ministry of Health