The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Palestine, Jamie McGoldrick, has slammed Israel for adding insulin pens for children to the list of prohibited items that are not allowed into the besieged and war-torn Gaza Strip. McGoldrick said that this is a violation of international humanitarian law and a serious threat to the lives of thousands of diabetic children in Gaza.
Insulin pens are devices that allow people with diabetes to inject themselves with insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Without insulin, people with diabetes can suffer from serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and even death. Insulin pens are preferred by many children and their parents because they are easier, safer, and less painful to use than syringes.
However, Israel has been imposing a strict blockade on Gaza since 2007, severely restricting the movement of people and goods in and out of the coastal enclave. Israel claims that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons and materials that could be used for military purposes from reaching Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. But human rights groups and international organizations have denounced the blockade as a form of collective punishment that violates the basic rights and dignity of the two million Palestinians living in Gaza.
According to McGoldrick, Israel has also banned many other items that are essential for humanitarian relief and development, such as pumps, generators, spare parts, pipes, solar panels, and some medical equipment. He said that these restrictions have hampered the efforts of the UN and its partners to provide displaced people with basic services such as food, medical support, shelter, water, and sanitation.
McGoldrick also highlighted the need to send fuel supplies to the north to operate generators inside hospitals there, such as Al-Shifa, to serve patients who are ill or wounded. He added that there is no real medical or casualty evacuation system in place to transport badly wounded people out of Gaza.
McGoldrick’s statement came amid a renewed escalation of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, which has resulted in hundreds of casualties and widespread destruction. On October 17, a munition struck al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, causing mass casualties; Hamas blamed Israel for the strike, while Israel said it was a rocket misfire by Palestinian militants. Human Rights Watch is looking into the strike.
McGoldrick urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. He also called for an immediate end to the blockade and for the full opening of all crossings into Gaza. He said that this is the only way to address the humanitarian crisis and to pave the way for a lasting peace.