B’Tselem: Israel Causing Collapse of Health System in Gaza Strip

A mother and her sick child in Gaza. (World Health Organization)
A mother and her sick child in Gaza. (World Health Organization)
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B’Tselem: Israel Causing Collapse of Health System in Gaza Strip

A mother and her sick child in Gaza. (World Health Organization)
A mother and her sick child in Gaza. (World Health Organization)

The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) warned of the collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip as a result of Tel Aviv’s policy that makes it difficult for the health system to operate normally.

In a report published on Monday, B’Tselem accused Israel of preventing many patients from leaving the Strip to receive medical treatment.

Instead of facilitating their departure to receive healthcare available a few kilometers away, Israeli authorities obstruct their path through several arbitrary instructions and procedures, thus condemning them to suffer from their illnesses until death, it noted.

B’Tselem explained that thousands of sick people, especially cancer patients, are forced to submit applications for permits to access hospitals in the West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel, or other countries, but only a fraction are accepted.

B'Tselem accused Israel of being slow to approve the applications and only accepts permits for treatments deemed "life-saving", according to the Israeli military assessments.

As for patients who meet the very narrow Israeli conditions, they are forced to follow a hard and arbitrary bureaucratic process that does not guarantee them a permit.

According to data from the World Health Organization, of 15,466 permit applications submitted through the Palestinian Health Liaison Office by patients from the Gaza Strip in 2021, more than half were for treatment in hospitals in Jerusalem. Thirty percent of the requests were for treatment in other hospitals in the West Bank, and only 14 percent were for treatment in Israel.

B’Tselem said that in most cases, applicants receive a response a day prior to their treatment appointment through a phone message informing them whether their application has been approved or rejected by the Israeli authorities or whether it is “still under examination.”

In 2021, the Center said 37 percent of applications were rejected or received no definitive response by the date of their hospital appointment. Also, 38 percent of applications from 4,145 pediatric patients and 24 percent of applications from patients over the age of 60 were rejected or did not receive a response by the date of their hospital appointment.

It added that patients who do not receive a permit to leave Gaza by the date of their appointment are forced to go through the whole bureaucratic process all over again.

The B’Tslelem report corroborates others by Palestinian and international organizations that accused Israel of causing the death of patients from Gaza because they prevented them from leaving the coastal enclave to receive medical treatment.

Last October, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) said that since the beginning of 2021 until August 31, 2022, Israeli authorities obstructed the travel of 5,000 out of 13,270 patients, or 37.6% of the total requests, who applied for travel permits for treatment at the hospitals in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, or Israel.



Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
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Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)

As US President Donald Trump advances a plan to end the war in Gaza as part of a broader Middle East strategy, Israeli polls show that 61% of Israelis support halting the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Despite this, military sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Israeli army, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval, is preparing a large-scale campaign dubbed the “Final Escalation.”

The goal is to inflict maximum damage on Hamas’s remaining capabilities and prevent the group from claiming victory.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the army will redeploy the Fifth Division, which was previously withdrawn to confront Iran. Asked whether this escalation could complicate negotiations and harden Hamas’s stance, officials said such decisions rest with the political leadership.

Meanwhile, Hebrew media outlets reported that Trump is pressing ahead with what has been called a “grand bargain,” involving ending the war, securing hostage releases, and expanding normalization agreements with Arab states. Reports indicate Netanyahu is planning a visit to the US to meet Trump, following intense talks between Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said: “Victory opens the chance to significantly expand peace agreements alongside the release of our hostages. This opportunity must not be missed.”

Israeli Channel 13 quoted officials describing “dramatic moves” underway in the region. American sources told Yedioth Ahronoth that efforts to reach a breakthrough in the hostage talks have gained momentum since the attack on Iran. Israeli officials said Netanyahu wants any agreement finalized at the highest levels, rather than sending delegations to Cairo or Doha.

The emerging proposal reportedly includes ending the war, returning 50 Israeli hostages, and broadening the Abraham Accords. According to Channel 12, families of the hostages have received messages from senior US officials that a comprehensive agreement is being pursued to end the conflict.

Israel Hayom reported that a four-way call took place after the US strike on Iranian facilities, involving Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu, and Dermer. Sources described them as “extremely euphoric,” eager to advance further steps.

Although Netanyahu’s office declined to comment, his ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir warned against any negotiations on a Palestinian state, prompting Netanyahu to issue a statement denying any such discussions or the reported call.