Israel: Gaza's one-time 'go to' health provder

The Sunday Times (NZ) 'Edit' section of 3 June, continues to draw oxygen from the now-debunked photo showing an emaciated child as a famine sufferer. In happier times i.e. prior to October 7th 2023, Israel was the 'go to' medical destination for Palestinians. UN Watch reports that despite the decades-long conflict, Israel has granted entry to tens of thousands of Palestinians. who received top-level medical care at Israeli hospitals. According to statistics from Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), in 2018 West Bank Palestinians (including the wife of the PLO's Mahmoud Abbas), received more than 20,000 permits for treatment in Israel. A Knesset report published in 2017 found that from 2011 to 2015 more than 42,000 Palestinians had received medical treatment in Israel, with the numbers receiving treatment increasing by 37% during those years. All at the same price as paid by Israelis. During the Syrian civil war, countless wounded from both sides were smuggled into Israel from Golan for treatment. I am pleased to note that the child in the photo is now receiving treatment in Jordan, with his travel facilitated by Israel.