EURO MPS PETITION FOR ENDING GAZA’S SIEGE, ALLOWING COVID-19 MEDICATIONS IN

Mon 21 December 2020:

Twenty four Members of the European Parliament signed a petition launched by the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranea Human Rights Monitor which called on the Israeli government to lift its siege of Gaza and allow COVID-19 medical supplies in light of the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the coastal enclave.

“Today, the numbers of COVID-19 cases, which are spreading like fire in refugee camps in Gaza, are telling of the catastrophic situation there. We call on the international community to immediately end the siege of Gaza, allow medical supplies and allocate vaccines for the Gaza Strip, where many face an imminent death,” said Dr. Ramy Abdu, Euro-Med Monitor Chairman.

“The Israeli government has to end its siege of Gaza now, and WHO should make sure Palestinians, whose healthcare system is collapsing, have access to decent healthcare. The situation in Gaza is no longer acceptable and we thank the MEPs for their stance to end the siege and help Palestinians as the pandemic is spreading”.

As of now, 32% of basic medicines and 62% of laboratory drugs are not available in the coastal enclave. Hospitals in Gaza are running out of their capacity. Considering the current rates of the spread of the virus, the Gaza Strip will not be able to cope with thousands of COVID-19 cases a day.

The petition calls on the international community to immediately end Gaza’s siege, allow medical supplies, and allocate vaccines for the Gaza Strip, where Abdu said: “Many face an imminent death.”

It said hospitals in Gaza are running out of capacity. Considering the current rates of the spread of the virus, the Gaza Strip will not be able to cope with thousands of COVID-19 cases a day, as nearly 90% of Gaza’s ICUs are occupied with COVID-19 patients.

The MEPs called on the governments of Israel and Egypt to immediately lift their blockade of Gaza and allow in the much-needed medical aid.

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