Gaza warns of health crisis as Egypt border closure continues

Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing may lead to a serious health disaster, Gaza's health authority warned on Wednesday.

"The decision to close the Rafah crossing to patients and humanitarian cases will add to their suffering and harm their health, and could lead to a serious health disaster," Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said.

Following the killing of 16 troops by gunmen near the Israeli border on Sunday night, Egypt closed "until further notice" its Rafah border post with Gaza, the Palestinian territory's only crossing outside Israeli control.

Egypt's MENA news agency said the gunmen were "jihadists" who "infiltrated from Gaza through tunnels in collaboration with jihadist elements in the Al-Mahdiya and Gabal Halal areas" inside Egypt.

Hamas dismissed the idea that militants from inside Gaza may have been involved, and put its security forces on full alert.

Qudra noted that many patients were awaiting permission to travel into Egypt for medical treatment.

"They are waiting for a decision from the Egyptian leadership and President Mohammad Morsi which will end their suffering," he said.

"For Palestinians, it is the only way out to the world and it gives hope to hundreds of patients with serious health problems," added Qudra, noting that many kinds of medicine were not available in the Hamas-controlled territory. more

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