In a disturbing turn of events, Israeli forces have arrested several Palestinians who were either receiving treatment or acting as medical chaperones for patients at Makassed Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem. The arrests were made after the Palestinians’ medical permits, issued by the Israeli military, had expired. This has left many patients and their relatives from Gaza stranded and unable to return home.
Among those arrested was Suhaila, the grandmother of 14-year-old Saeb Ali al-Tanani, who is suffering from a leg tumor. Saeb expressed his concern for his family back in Gaza and his desire to go back home. The Israeli police stated that the Palestinians were staying “illegally” at the hospital, despite the fact that they were receiving medical treatment.
The raid on the hospital involved dozens of Israeli police and soldiers who sealed off entrances and arrested several individuals, including elderly women and parents of patients. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has not been provided with any information about the detainees, leaving their families in a state of uncertainty about their whereabouts.
Other patients and their accompanying relatives are now stuck at the hospital, unable to return home. Nine-year-old Hala, who underwent a spinal operation, longs to be reunited with her family in Khan Younis, Gaza. Mahdiya al-Shanti, a 20-year-old patient, shares a similar sentiment as she worries about her family’s safety amidst the ongoing conflict.
Makassed Hospital is one of six Palestinian hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem that offer medical specialties not available in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. More than half of the patients in these hospitals are referred from the occupied territories. The hospital has not provided specific details about the number of Gaza patients and chaperones who remain.
Doctors at the hospital fear reprisals if they speak out about the situation, including the possibility of arrests or losing their jobs. Meanwhile, the patients from Gaza are not only dealing with their own health issues but also the anxiety of not knowing what is happening to their families back home.
This incident highlights the dire circumstances faced by Palestinians seeking medical treatment in occupied East Jerusalem. It raises questions about the Israeli authorities’ disregard for the well-being of these individuals and the impact of the ongoing conflict on their access to healthcare.
As the international community continues to monitor the situation, it is crucial to address the alarming violation of human rights and ensure the safety and well-being of all patients and their relatives at Makassed Hospital.
