Israeli authorities continue to use Erez crossing—Gaza’s only pedestrian crossing with Israel—as a means to entrap and coerce Palestinians, most notably those in need of urgent medical care otherwise unavailable in Gaza due to Israel’s settler-colonial closure and repeated military assaults. Medical patients and their companions are not only subjected to Israel’s draconian, discriminatory permit regime—which delays or denies them access to medical care in the rest of the occupied territory or abroad—but upon obtaining a permit, they risk being interrogated or arbitrarily arrested by Israeli authorities at Erez.

Al Mezan reports that at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday, 5 March 2023, Israeli authorities at Erez arrested Naim Al-Sharif, a 64-year-old resident of Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah City, despite having approved his request to accompany his daughter-in-law to Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah. Al-Sharif’s daughter-in-law, 35-year-old Kifah Al-Sharif, is a breast cancer patient who was granted an exit permit after receiving a referral to the hospital for treatment.

Following Naim’s arbitrary arrest, Kifah stayed at the crossing until 11 p.m. waiting for her father-in-law to be released, but not to avail. She ultimately decided to return home. Notably, as of 1 p.m. on Thursday, 9 March 2023, Naim Al-Sharif remains under Israeli arbitrary detention.

Al Mezan strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of Naim Al-Sharif and the policies and practices of the Israeli authorities that hampers access to healthcare. By doing so, the Israeli authorities deviate from the fundamental rules and obligations pertaining to an occupying power under international law. Al Mezan also stresses that the physical and psychological pain that patients and their companions endure while attempting to access healthcare is a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Accordingly, Al Mezan reiterates its call on the international community to ensure the respect of international law and to exert pressure on Israel, the occupying power, to ensure freedom of movement of goods and people, and uphold Palestinian patients’ right to healthcare and guarantee the safety of their companions.