Palestinian baby dies after treatment alleged to have been delayed by Israeli blockade of Gaza

A 19-month-old Palestinian baby died in Gaza last week, after waiting five months for Israel to grant her permission to leave the besieged Strip for treatment, the British Guardian newsaper reported.

Fatima Al-Masri, who was diagnosed last year with a hole in the heart, missed two appointments for treatment at Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem, in December and February, while her family were repeatedly informed that her case was “under review” by Israel’s Coordination and Liaison Administration.

Israeli authorities denied Fatma the requisite exit permit to travel to Jerusalem for the appointments, the last of which was on 5 March 2022. The young patient’s health deteriorated over the course of several months of denied care and she died three weeks after her last missed appointment.