Which means that during this horrible "siege," Israel has been doubling and re-doubling the number of patients allowed from Gaza to Israel or the PA for treatment.
Table 1
Referrals and Permits to Enter Israel for Medical Care,
Gaza, 2006-2008Month
No. of patients applied for permits
No. of patients given permits
Proportion of patients given permits
2006
January
741
719
97.0%
February
769
716
93.1%
March
562
485
86.3%
April
274
209
76.3%
May
453
404
89.2%
June
474
400
84.4%
July
185
171
92.4%
August
293
267
91.1%
September
438
402
91.8%
October
380
345
90.8%
November
509
455
89.4%
December
392
359
91.6%
Total 2006
5470
4932
90.2%
2007
January
506
452
89.3%
February
595
540
90.8%
March
681
607
89.1%
April
515
460
89.3%
May
737
665
90.2%
June
412
368
89.3%
July
859
765
89.1%
August
985
787
79.9%
September
715
591
82.7%
October
1103
850
77.1%
November
654
422
64.5%
December
1041
669
64.3%
Total 2007
8803
7176
81.5%
2008
January
2590
1618
62%
February
2324
1670
72%
March
2569
1747
68%
April
1959
1263
64%
May
1908
1346
70%
June
1851
1152
62%
Total (6M) 2008
13201
8796
66%
Sources: COGAT and WHO, Jerusalem Office 2008. Data from Jan. 2008 ff not yet confirmed by WHO.
While the percentage of permit approvals has dropped, the number of permits has increased dramatically, despite these salient facts:
During this period there were some 30 foiled attempts at terrorist infiltration, including at least 20 incidents where Palestinians used medical missions to attempt terror attacks. In June 2006, a female suicide terrorist was arrested at the Erez crossing while on her way to carry out an attack on an Israeli hospital. In May 2007, two female bombers received permits but were caught after slipping through security checks.7 On May 22, 2008, a truck loaded with 4.5 tons of explosives exploded just before reaching the crossing.Another point is that the number of patients traveling to Israel via Gaza dwarfs the number who go to Egypt.The ISA published reports on 11 individuals, including those just cited, who used permits for medical care or for family visits to patients already in Israel for the purpose of carrying out terror-related activities. At Erez, three patients admitted under questioning that they had purchased referral notes with bogus medical information from doctors in Gaza. According to the ISA, terror organizations were making a special effort to recruit women, including those who are pregnant, who are less likely to be closely examined and whose heavy clothing more readily conceals suspicious objects.8 PHR-I forwarded these patients for approval, unaware of their true status.
Here we have another example where Israel's humanitarianism towards a hostile Gaza population, which is is under no obligation to provide, is used as a weapon against it.