Only
yesterday, 10 days later, was Abu Taha’s entry to Israel arranged. The
Palestinian ambulance carrying him waited at the checkpoint for five
hours before being allowed to cross. Today, the family was informed
that Abu Taha died a few hours after he crossed into Israel , although
they have not yet received any specific details on his death. The
father was released from detention following his son’s death.

{mosimage}

In
August 2007, Mahmoud Abu Taha, 21, was diagnosed with cancer of the
small intestine. He underwent surgery at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis,
but the operation failed. After receiving chemotherapy at the European
Hospital in Gaza , physicians found that his intestines were blocked
and that he required emergency surgery in Israel . While at the
hospital, Abu Taha was intravenously fed a vitamin solution. The
hospital had a shortage of the solution because of the siege on Gaza
and was forced to drop Abu Taha’s feeding from four to two portions of
the solution a day. As a result, he lost an appreciable amount of
weight.

On 18 October, Abu Taha’s family
managed to get him a permit to enter Israel so that he could undergo
surgery at Tel Hashomer Hospital . That same day, he was taken by
ambulance to Erez Checkpoint, his father accompanying him. When the
father went to arrange the crossing, Shabak agents detained him and
ordered the ambulance to return to the hospital in Gaza . The father
remained in detention for 11 days.

Only
yesterday, 10 days later, was Abu Taha’s entry to Israel arranged. The
Palestinian ambulance carrying him waited at the checkpoint for five
hours before being allowed to cross. Today, the family was informed
that Abu Taha died a few hours after he crossed into Israel , although
they have not yet received any specific details on his death. The
father was released from detention following his son’s death.

{mosimage}
Mahmoud Abu Taha at the European Hospital in Gaza. Photo: Muhammad Sabah , B’Tselem.

The
health system in the Gaza Strip is able to supply only limited services
and due to Israel ‘s siege policy, the quality of treatment provided is
steadily declining. As of June 2007, Israel has forbidden Palestinians
to leave the Gaza Strip to go abroad, even to receive medical
treatment. The only possibility remaining to sick people who need
treatment that is unavailable in the Gaza Strip is to seek treatment in
Israel . However, only a small number of entry permits are given and
only following a lengthy process.