GAZA CITY, 26 August 2005 — Palestinian medical experts fear a looming health crisis after Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip unless patients are guaranteed access to life-saving treatment beyond the territory.

While Israel regards its departure from Gaza as signaling the end of its 38-year occupation, the Palestinians argue that Israel will remain an occupying power as long as it retains control of its borders and is thus still obliged to meet the health needs of the local population.

“I fear a worsening of the health situation after the withdrawal from Gaza as a result of the Israeli cordon,” said Dr. Majdi Ashur, president of the Palestinian relief committees.

“Israel is refusing to recognize its obligations as a continuing occupation power by meeting basic health needs of the population and we do not foresee a resumption of proper freedom of movement in the short term,” he told AFP.

More than 10,000 patients are transferred each year out of Gaza to Egypt, Jordan and the West Bank to receive treatment, said Ashur.

Hundreds of those who are treated outside the territory are suffering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, he added.

Mona Al-Farra, head of the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza, said “dozens of patients currently need x-rays, chemotherapy or surgery in areas such as cardiology, neurology or eye surgery”.

“There is no agreement with Israel which allows for the transfer of these patients and Israel is refusing to receive certain patients whom it regards as representing a security danger.”

Israel has been increasingly reluctant to allow Palestinians to be treated inside its borders since an incident in June when a young woman from Gaza who was receiving treatment for burns was stopped with explosives at the Erez terminal crossing.

A recent report by Physicians for Human Rights said that up to $2.5 billion needs to be pumped into the Gaza Strip’s health sector over the next 10 years.