Israel criticised for thwarting medical mission to Palestinian territories

[Scurrilous]

• Border guards turn away team including British medics
• Doctors had planned to perform surgeries on children

<snip>

"Israel was yesterday criticised after it refused to allow a group of doctors on a humanitarian mission organised by the French government to enter Gaza.

The team, including three British medics, was turned back by Israeli border guards on Sunday and Monday. They say their mission is purely humanitarian, aimed to helping those in medical need, and some of whom were left injured and in need of surgery after Israel's attack on Gaza earlier this year.

One of the Britons refused entry to Gaza, Sonia Robbins, who is a reconstructive plastic surgeon, said: "I don't know why we are being refused permission to enter.

"The consequences are that patients will not be operated on, children will have to wait until next time for surgery, and that won't happen until six months time.

"I think it is unacceptable to refuse a humanitarian mission."

The team had tried to enter through the Erez crossing. Robbins said she had been allowed to work in Gaza before. She said the team of nine medics were concentrating on surgery to the upper limbs, and that their papers to gain entry into Gaza were all in order. She added the border guards had been courteous as they refused the medical team permission to enter Gaza, where as well as treating the injured, they would help teach Palestinian doctors."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/07/israel-palestinian-territories-doctors-humanitarian