Physicians for Human Rights: Delayed Exit of a Toddler from Gaza Results in Death

Palestinian children are being killed on daily basis in the Gaza Strip particularly, Palestine in general. Not always are they killed by missiles or bullets, but many times by the "Israeli" policy of imprisonment and besiege.

Nasma Abu Lasheen, a young resident of Gaza diagnosed with Leukemia was denied urgent entry permit for medical treatment at Ha-Emek Medical Center in Afula, "Israel".

When requests to the "Israeli" Army for an entry permit went unanswered for several days, the family contacted Physicians for Human Rights- "Israel" (PHR-"Israel") for additional help on October 13, 2010.

That very same day, PHR-"Israel" contacted the Gaza District Coordination Office (DCO) demanding a permit be issued immediately to the baby and her father to enable their entry into "Israel". A military approval was finally granted the next afternoon, October 14, 2010. Two-Year old toddler died on Saturday, October 16, 2010 in Gaza.

Abu Lasheen's medical condition had been deteriorating rapidly and by the time the permit was received, the treating doctor in Gaza, Dr. Mohammad Abu Sha'aban, said she was too sick to travel. Nasma died in the early morning hours of October 16, 2010.

Abu Lasheen's death comes just days PHR-"Israel" testified to the "Israeli" Turkel Commission which investigates the Flotilla incident, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip as a result of "Israel's" closure policy.

PHR-"Israel" immediately lodged a complaint with the head of the "Israeli" DCO, demanding an immediate inquiry into those responsible for the delayed response.

PHR- "Israel" pointed to the rising numbers of Gaza patients denied exit for treatment in hospitals outside the Strip, a phenomenon that has intensified since "Israel's" tightened closure took effect June 2007. PHR-Israel emphasized that for the patients, a delayed or non-approved permit could mean the difference between quality of life and preventable pain and suffering, and in many cases, even the difference between life and death, as demonstrated by the Abu Lasheem case.