Israeli Non-Profit Seeks Supreme Court Intervention to Protect Palestinians Accessing Healthcare in East Jerusalem
A non-profit organization in Israel has taken legal action by appealing to the Supreme Court to oppose the government's decision to relocate Palestinian patients receiving medical treatment in East Jerusalem hospitals back to Gaza. The petition aims to safeguard the healthcare access of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
An Israeli non-profit organization, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, has filed a petition with the country's Supreme Court. They aim to stop the government from returning Palestinian patients, currently receiving treatment in East Jerusalem hospitals, back to Gaza. The decision to take legal action was prompted by a CNN report highlighting the situation of these hospital patients, as stated by the organization's spokesperson, Ran Yaron, on Wednesday.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel stated that returning residents to Gaza during a military conflict and humanitarian crisis violates international law and puts innocent lives at risk. This is especially concerning for patients who could face death due to poor conditions, lack of food, and limited access to medical care.
A group of around two dozen Palestinian patients and their companions were scheduled to be transported to Gaza on Thursday morning, but their departure has been postponed twice without explanation.
Asmaa Al Dabje, who will soon be sent back to Gaza along with baby
Asmaa Al Dabje, who will soon be sent back to Gaza along with baby
Mick Krever/CNN
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Some Palestinian patients in hospitals in East Jerusalem will be returning to Gaza as per the decision of Israel. Hospital officials have mentioned that among these patients are five newborn babies and their mothers, cancer patients who are now in remission, and a few companions who were accompanying the patients.
Three mothers CNN interviewed at the hospital shared mixed feelings about going back to Gaza. They wanted to see their families and other children again, but they also felt the need to keep their newborns safe in Jerusalem.
Nima Abu Garrara, a mother of twins who are just a few months old, expressed her concerns about the Israeli military potentially invading Rafah. She worried about being held accountable if anything happened to her babies. Despite wanting to return home, she stayed in Jerusalem to protect her children.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel pointed out that security officials are avoiding responsibility by not providing a written directive, suggesting they know it is illegal.
Hospital officials have been mainly communicating with COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body in charge of Palestinian affairs, over the phone to coordinate the departures.
Displaced Palestinians come together to receive donated food from a charitable youth group for breakfast during the second day of Ramadan in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip on March 12, 2024. 
Loay Ayyoub/The Washington Post/Getty Images
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Famine is looming in northern Gaza, with over 1 million people at risk of facing 'catastrophic' levels of hunger, according to a new report.
Dr. Fadi Atrash, the CEO of Augusta Victoria Hospital, shared with CNN on Sunday that he had been refusing Israeli government requests for a list of Palestinians who no longer needed in-patient treatment.
"It's frustrating for us," he expressed. "We haven't been able to assist people in Gaza throughout the war. As doctors, we feel helpless every day, unable to make a difference."
In response to a question from CNN, COGAT verified that Palestinians from Gaza who no longer require medical treatment will be returned to Gaza. COGAT will work with international aid groups to facilitate their return.
“In cases where there is a need for further medical treatment, COGAT arranges their stay with the hospitals to safeguard their health,” the agency said.
Editor's P/S:
The Israeli government's decision to return Palestinian patients to Gaza during an ongoing military conflict and humanitarian crisis is a clear violation of international law and a grave threat to innocent lives. As Physicians for Human Rights Israel has rightly pointed out, these patients face a real risk of death due to poor conditions, lack of food, and limited access to medical care in Gaza. The fact that security officials are avoiding providing a written directive suggests that they are aware of the illegality of their actions.
The plight of these patients is a reminder of the ongoing human suffering caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli government must immediately halt the deportation of these patients and allow them to receive the medical care they need. The international community must also condemn this illegal and inhumane action and pressure Israel to respect international law and human rights.
