Israel preventing X-ray machines from entering Gaza: Health ministry

The Gaza Strip's health ministry says the Israeli regime has been preventing entry of direly-needed X-ray machines into the Tel Aviv-blockaded Palestinian territory.

The ministry announced the information on Thursday, saying requests for eight different types of devices and spare parts for existing equipment, had been either rejected or delayed over the past 14 months, Reuters reported.

Medhat Abbas, the ministry's director, said the equipment was funded by international relief and medical institutions on behalf of hospitals in Gaza.

"In the whole world, there is no such thing where those who want to buy medicine or medical equipment do not get a permit from the occupier. Why is it that when Palestinians in the Gaza strip want to buy medical equipment, they have to wait a year and in many cases, after waiting, they get an Israeli denial? This is a huge thing," he said.

COGAT, the Israeli regime’s military body responsible for civilian affairs in the occupied territories, however, alleged that the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas that rules the coastal sliver and its fellow resistance groups were "systematically and cynically taking advantage of humanitarian and civilian shipments of equipment and goods...."

The body's remarks echoed the regime's unsubstantiated assertion that the resistance movements use the equipment and goods for military purposes.

Abbas also said that the Israeli claims about the medical equipment having dual uses were a lie.

MG