Identification centre set up for returned Palestinian bodies
The facility has been established at the al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City for the bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel.
“This is to verify their identities in preparation for completing the legal procedures and burying them with dignity,” a Health Ministry statement said.
Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians through the International Committee of the Red Cross in exchange for the final Israeli captive, whose remains were recovered by Israeli forces last week.
Rebuilding Gaza’s decimated health system ‘most efficient’ way to treat patients: WHO
Not only does Gaza’s border with Egypt need to fully open but so do all other “pathways for patients”, says Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO).
“We know the most time-efficient and cost-efficient referral pathways are through to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where there are medical facilities ready to receive patients,” Jasarevic told Al Jazeera.
“We have been calling for the opening of all crossings throughout the war,” he added.
While thousands of patients in Gaza need security clearances from Israeli authorities to leave the enclave for treatment, countries around the world also need to step forward and accept wounded and ill Palestinians after more than two years of devastation, Jasarevic said.
“So far during the war, we evacuated more than 10,000 people, and the majority of these people went to Egypt and after that the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and some European countries. … What we really should be focused on now is to rebuild the health system inside Gaza so we don’t rely so much on evacuations.”
‘Save the patients of Gaza,’ doctor pleads
Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, says Israel must be forced to get rid of the time-wasting restrictions on patients seeking life-saving healthcare outside the besieged Strip.
He noted that on Monday only five patients were permitted by Israeli authorities to pass through the Rafah border crossing. About 22,000 sick and wounded Palestinians in Gaza need urgent evacuation for treatment, Abu Salmiya said.
“Today, 16 patients were discharged, meaning it will take about five years on average for all patients to be discharged. This is crisis management, not a solution to the crisis,” he said.
“Allow us access to medicines, medical supplies and equipment, and we will be able to treat our patients. Denying patients discharge and preventing the entry of medicines is a death sentence for them. Save the patients of Gaza.”
