Say, remember when I wrote that Hamas has refused to accept $50 million in medical supplies from Israel? (Of course you did. It was only two days ago.) Remember how I said to remember this when the cries about the Israel-caused health crisis come out?
Well, that didn’t take long.
Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population said that Israel disallowed Egyptian medical aid to pass through its checkpoint to reach the Gaza Strip on Thursday, reported the official MENA news agency.
A statement issued by the ministry was quoted as saying that the Egyptian medical aid included 15.5 tons of medicines and medical supplies.
The relief assistance was supposed to reach the Gaza Strip via Israel’s Karem Abu-Salem checkpoint in line with an agreement with the Israeli authorities beforehand.
Upon arrival at the crossing, the Israeli authorities disallowed those medical staff to pass and announced the checkpoint closed until Sunday, said the statement, without giving more details.
The Egyptian government is known for its, how shall we say, bald-faced lying all of the time. I can find no corroboration of this from any other source, and you know this is the type of story that Reuters would tout from the rooftops if true.
But wait, what about Doctors Without Borders?
When you know that you won’t have enough supplies to make it to the end of the month, you tighten up. In Gaza, only emergency surgeries are performed. Medicines are also prescribed in smaller quantities and patients are sent to private pharmacies, which face shortages, too. Given the standard of living, patients cannot afford to pay for treatment. Some go to Egypt, where medicine is cheaper, but if they bring back more than a small amount, everything will be confiscated at customs. Last summer, in anticipation of possible blockages during the dismantling of the Gaza settlements, MSF stocked up on supplies and medicines, which have since allowed us to make some small donations. During my visit, we made contributions to the general public hospital and the pediatric hospital in Gaza, as well as to the Khan Younis hospital. We will continue to do that on occasion, but the needs are very great.
The Situation Could Quickly Turn Critical
If we get to the point where supplies of certain products are exhausted, treatment will stop. Managing a hospital is much more complex than simply buying medicine and paying salaries. You also have to dispose of wastes, clean and sterilize, and pay the electricity bills. The quality of care will be affected and contamination risks will increase. Similarly, if health care providers are not paid, their motivation can suffer. Doctors working for the public health system already hold down multiple jobs so that they can achieve a reasonable standard of living. Without salaries and supplies to carry out their job properly, you can imagine that they will only work in private offices and clinics. But people cannot — and will be increasingly unable to — pay for care. Finally, major illnesses like cancer, genetic problems and congenital deformities that, until now, have been treated in neighboring countries (Jordan, Israel and Egypt) will no longer be treated because of lack of resources. People are very worried about their future. They are feeling the weight of uncertainty and fear of tomorrow. A patient said to me, “It’s like walking with a stick in your shoe.”
Yes, and I believe the stick’s logo is “Hamas.” Get rid of it, and your problems are over. Because Israel offered, and Hamas refused, the medicines.
But the lying has begun. Watch it grow.