By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian health ministry under Hamas administration in Gaza warned on Wednesday of a humanitarian disaster that will multiply in the coastal enclave if Israeli siege remains in place.
“Gaza is dying today and its residents are bleeding and the death is approaching the patients and hospitals while the Israeli occupation kills the women and children,” said Bassem Na’iem, Hamas’ health minister.
Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007, Israel lightened the closure of the territory, banned export and limited the imports to the very humanitarian and basic needs.
Na’iem said the blockade affects medicine deliveries to the hospitals and makes it very difficult to evacuate serious medical cases outside Gaza for further treatment.
According to the available figures, 70 patients have died due to the siege since June 2007. The number includes patients who died while being stranded outside Gaza and those who died while being traveling through the Israeli-run crossing points.
Na’im urged the international institutions, especially the World Health Organization (WHO), to immediately intervene and pressurize Israel to end the siege on Gaza.