Liebe FreundInnen, Die Europa Abgeordnete Luisa Morgantini hat nach einem Besuch in Gaza einen ergreifenden Artikel geschrieben über die Leiden einer jungen Frau, die im Alter von 29 Jahren an Brustkrebs sterben musste, weil sie trotz aller Bemühungen der israelischen Physicians for Human Rights und sogar gerichtlicher Anordnung immer wieder daran gehindert wurde, rechtzeitig oder überhaupt zu ihren Behandlungsterminen nach Jerusalem einzureisen. Zunächst wurde ihr von einem palästinensischen Krankenhaus mehrmals, auch nach einer ersten Biopsie, die Diagnose 'gutartig' ausgestellt. Das ist ein direktes Resultat der israelischen Politik, die viele gebildete PalästinenserInnen - so auch spezialisierte Ärzte - in die Flucht getrieben hat. Schließlich erhielt sie doch eine Krebsdiagnose und wandte sich an ein israelisches Krankenhaus, die sie sofort aufforderten, hinzukommen. Dreimal musste sie um Erlaubnis bitten, erst die Intervention der PHR machte eine Untersuchung möglich. Dennoch musste sie bei jeder Behandlung stundenlang am Checkpoint verharren, teilweise war es dann schon zu spät für den Termin. Da ihr Zustand sich ständig verschlechtert, wird sie operiert, bestrahlt (in den seltenen Fällen wo sie durchgelassen wird) und schließlich im Krankenhaus behalten. Ihr Vater und zwei Schwestern erhalten Erlaubnis sie zu besuchen. Die Polizei am Checkpoint will sie, nach stundenlangem Warten, nur durchlassen wenn jeder von ihnen 30 000 Shekel Kaution hinterlegen, was ihnen natürlich unmöglich ist. Die unglaublich Tortur geht weiter - immer wieder wird der Durchlass zu Behandlungens mit den unmöglichsten Begründungen verweigert. Ich hänge den Artikel an (siehe unten), die Details lohnen sich zu lesen. Das Licht, das er auf israelische Polizei und Soldaten wirft ist fast das Schlimmste, was ich bisher gelesen habe. Was für ein Mensch muss man (geworden) sein, um einer fürchterlich leidenden, vermutlich sterbenden Frau den Zugang zu Ärzten und Krankenhauspersonal zu verweigern, obwohl diese sich immer wieder (sogar persönlich, wie eine Delegation von israelischen Ärtztinnen, die bei der Behörde erschienen sind und versucht haben, für sie zu intervenieren) für sie einsetzen? Und das nicht in Ausführung, sondern geradezu in Missachtung von Befehlen? ------------------- Die Organisation New Profile ist zurecht stolz, dass das Buch "Education and Militarism", das in der Folge einer internationalen Tagung entstanden ist, die von New Profile mit der Hebrew University und einem Lehrerseminar 2001 organisiert wurde, nun zur Pflichtlektüre einer Universitätsveranstaltung über Medien und Patriotismus geworden ist. Somit trägt die Arbeit von NP Frucht an einem zentralen gesellschaftlichen Punkt, der Lehrerausbildung. ------------------ Die Frauenorganisation Machsom (Checkpoint) Watch empört sich über die zynischen Riesentafeln, die an den neuen "modernisierten" Checkpoints aufgestellt werden mit der Aufschrift "The Hope of Us All", "Unser aller Hoffnung". 200 000 Menschen in den besetzten Gebieten sind inzwischen von Shabak (dem Sicherheitsdienst) auf die 'schwarze Liste' gesetzt worden, das heißt, dass es ihnen nicht erlaubt ist, die Gebiete zu verlassen, ob zu Familienbesuch, zum Studium, zur medizinischen Behandlung oder zur Religionsausübung. Auf die Liste kann man kommen wenn - ein Verwandter (absichtlich oder versehentlich) von der Armee verletzt wurde - man sich geweigert hat, Freunde oder Verwandte zu inkriminieren - wenn man 'illegal' in Israel entdeckt wird - wenn man männlich und zwischen 16 und 30 ist - wenn man männlich, über 30 aber unverheiratet und/oder kinderlos ist und eine Fülle anderer, weniger klassifizierbarer Gründe -------------------- Die Zeitung Daily Star schreibt in einem Leitartikel am 18.01. dass Ehud Olmert, amtierende Premier Minister, bereits seine Palästina Politik detailliert dargelegt hat, uns zwar dass er gleich nach den Wahlen am 28. März anfangen will, mit Palästina im Rahmen der Road Map zu verhandeln. Die Palästinenser werden dazu aufgerufen, die Zeit bis dahin zu nutzen, um sich auf die Verhandlungen vorzubereiten. ---------------------- Die einzige jüdisch-arabische Zeitung in Israel, Du-Et, obwohl erst 2 Jahre alt, hofft, dass sie in zwei Jahren bereits obsolet sein wird,weil sie bis dahin solch tiefgehende Veränderungen in der israelischen Medienlandschaft bewirken kann, dass sie danach nicht mehr nötig sein wird. --------------------- Dass dasnoch ein weiter Weg ist, zeigen die angehängten Fotos vom Mauerbau an der neuen Checkpointanlage in Qalqilya. Damit grüße ich für heute, Anka

 

 

 

Dying of cancer in Gaza, Palestine.

The story of Fatma Barghouth, who wanted to live.

 

by Luisa Morgantini

Member of the European Parliament

returned from  Gaza, 7 January 2006

Fatma Barghouth - picture of Miki Kratsman

 

Fatma Barghouth died on 24th December at the age of 29, eaten away by a cancer that had spread from her breast to her spinal column.

She was buried in the cemetery of Gaza City.

She isn't alone in her grave: the bodies of two other women are buried with her. Too many people die in Gaza and there's no more space. Her family wanted to bury her in the cemetery attached to the Jabalia refugee camp, where there's still space available for the dead. It wasn't possible: that morning there was an exchange of fire between the Israeli army and a Palestinian armed group. The army brought in artillery and bombarded the area. A bomb destroyed the road that runs from Jabalia to the cemetery.

Fatma's agony and death weren't simple, anymore than her life was.

In April 2003, Fatma felt a lump in her breast. She was 26 years old, a beautiful young woman dressed in the traditional Palestinian mode - not the Islamic veil but the peasant

headscarf - a big smile and big dark eyes, a will to live and to resist that gave her the strength to fight  against her illness and against all the oppression and bureaucratic obstacles.

I want to tell you about the obstacles and setbacks she endured to reach the Israeli hospital where they were waiting to treat her. I want to tell you about the dedication of Physicians for Human Rights, an Israeli association that struggles against the daily persecution and discrimination  with respect to health care that Palestinians suffer at the hands of the Israeli authorities. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR www.phr.org.il) take care of sick Palestinians who would die or be unable to reach a specialist hospital without their help. In the case of Fatma, despite all their efforts, they didn't succeed. It is from their work I got her story. 

Too often, when she should have gone for chemotherapy, she was turned back at the Erez check point, which divides Northern Gaza from Israel.  Wracked with pain, Fatma spent hour after hour, alone, waiting to see the iron gate open and allow her to enter Israel. Fatma had all the necessary documents, some even obtained by recourse to the Israeli courts. Doctors from the Tel Hashomer hospital phoned the Israeli forces at Erez to ask that she be allowed to pass and to confirm that she had to undergo chemotherapy. But most of the time, the officers and soldiers didn't listen to reason.

Fatma couldn't even see them. But they, seated and hidden in their cages, observed her using telecameras. She only heard the orders from croaky voices emanating from loudspeakers; orders given in Hebrew of which not only she, but any Palestinian or foreigner who passed by, understood only 'Yes' or 'No'.

"Security concerns" said the soldier at the check point.

And meanwhile the sickness spread within Fatma's body.

However, her calvary didn't only depend on the brutal wall of the Israeli military occupation and the lack of humanity and compassion on the part of the Israeli army and border police, the resignation and lack of specialisation in the Palestinian health system also played their part.

 

Fatma, discovers a lump in her breast.

On the 15th April 2003, the first time she went to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza to have the lump in her breast checked, the doctor did an x-ray and a biopsy. After a wait of ten days, the first examination was found to be unsatisfactory. Another biopsy, and after a wait of two weeks, the doctor told her not to worry - the lump was benign. He said it was a “fibro adenoma”.  In June the tumour had grown and Fatma felt two more small lumps. She had to insist to persuade the doctor to remove the lump. Two weeks later the department of Oncology reported that the removed tumour was benign.

But Fatma's body started to be invaded. After the operation more lumps appeared. In August she went to the private clinic (it's the same the whole world over) of the doctor from the Shifa Hospital. "No problem", the doctor told her “you must have fastened your bra too tight”. Fatma, obstinate, asked for a new biopsy and this time the results were clear. Fatma had a malignant carcinoma that was spreading. After nine chemotherapy cycles at the Gaza hospital, Fatma decided to turn to the Israeli hospital Tel Hashomer, she sent the results of her biopsy and the hospital staff replied immediately, asking her to come as soon as possible.

 

A permit for life, given and taken away, an arbitrary act. 

And so the tragic rigmarole of permits and check points starts.

Three times, Fatma submitted a request for a visa to the Office of Coordination. No reply. Not Yes, not No. Nothing. On the  13th November, Fatma asked PHR to intervene. Professor Rafi Waldan succeeded in getting her an urgent appointment for the 25th Novermber.

A new visa request. The day of the appointment arrived but no reply about the permit.

PHR decided to appeal to the courts with an urgent procedure. Fatma's lawyer was Yossi Tzur from the Carmeli-Arnon law firm. The answer from the court arrived on 12th December - permission granted to go for treatment at the Tel Hashomer Hospital.

At least one obstacle had been removed. But the odyssey had only just started. Every time that she had to go to the hospital, the Israeli doctors had to intervene, and even then, every time, she had to wait hours on end before being allowed to pass the check point.

No one from her family was allowed to accompany her. No permit was granted to them.

In January 2004, they sent her back at the check point. Another intervention by the lawyer Yossi Tzur, another permit, and another appointment for the next day. Fatma arrives at the checkpoint in the early morning. They make her wait until 1pm. When she arrives at the hospital, it's too late. The department is closed.

On Feburary 9th, Fatma must go to the hospital to have the tumour removed. She arrives at Erez very early in the morning, she waits alone until 5.30pm. The Israeli doctors and the lawyer intervene. They even call Carmela Menashe, a journalist with “Kol Israel”, but the woman soldier who has Fatma's permit isn't at the post. She was working in the kitchen and no one could replace her.

Finally at 6.30 pm, Fatma can pass.  She arrives at the hospital and the next day they operate. Two days later the doctor informs her that the tumour has spread and further

surgery is required. Still alone, despite the fact that the doctors had several times requested permits for some family members; alone in a hospital in which the doctors showed her solidarity but couldn't speak her language, alone with all her anxiety, anger, and pain.

Discharged from hospital, she returns to Gaza. March 25th, another appointment in preparation for radiotherapy. The permit is not granted and she is prohibited from leaving Gaza. A new appointment two weeks later and this time she manages to pass. Her treatment is to consist of 25 consecutive days of radiotherapy. Impossible to travel from Gaza every day.  The doctors of  PHR request permits to stay in Israel during the treatment for Fatma and another patient who like her has breast cancer. Denied!  No choice but to go back to court.  PHR are joined by another Israeli group “One in nine: Women for victims of breast cancer”. The request is granted. The two patients can remain in Israel but for Fatma the problem is not over; her permit is for a month, and her treatment is for five weeks. Another commitment from PHR members who allow her to stay at their homes, illegally.

 

Pay 30,000 shekels and maybe you'll see Fatma before she dies.

She returns to Gaza, apparently the operation has gone well. But it's not to be. After a month the cancer reappears. Fatma's condition worsens. She suffers severe pain in her back and legs. On July 22nd, she is readmitted. This time she goes in the ambulance and her mother accompanies her. The test shows metastases in the dorsal spine. They keep her in hospital and her condition worsens. She wants to see her family. PHR make an

urgent request to the Israeli commanding officer, but it is August 2nd before they get a reply: only her father and two sisters can come. Some of her brothers are less than 45 years old, so there's no chance of a permit for them.

But even her father and sisters didn't arrive that day. After waiting many hours at the Erez check point, the border police refused to let them pass unless each paid a guarantee of 30,000 shekels (almost 6,000 Euro). After the intervention of lawyer Yossi Tzur, the police declared themselves willing to compromise - instead of 30,000 they asked 20,000. Impossible for the family to find that kind of money.

Another request to the court and finally on August 9th they get the permits, but still they don't pass. The border police stop them, this time there's even an intervention from an Israeli MP, but they have to return to Gaza.

The 16th August, three weeks after the request, the two sisters manager to get to Fatma and her mother. Her father does not get a permit and must remain in Gaza. Security issues say the soldiers.

The staff, doctors and nurses, in the oncology department performed wonders for Fatma. When he had regained her strength and the cycle of treatment was finished, Fatma returned to Gaza where she was supposed to continue chemotherapy.

A month passed before the Palestinian minister of health approved the extremely costly treatment and all the necessary medicines arrived at the Shifa hospital in Gaza.

Fatma's condition worsens. She has difficulty breathing. The doctor at  Tel Hashomer tells her to return to him without delay.

A new permit and on the 5th September the soldier doesn't let her pass the check point because according to him Fatma had previously entered Israel without a permit.  The issue is resolved around 7 pm. An entire day at the check point. The radio- and chemotherapies should start on September 14th.

Frenetic contacts by PHR and some doctors from the hospital with the Israeli health coordinator for Gaza, Weinberger. He promises to release a permit. On the 14th, only at 5.30 pm does the commanding officer inform them that there is a permit but only for Fatma - no attendants and no ambulance. Fatma can't stand and so - no hospital.

A new request for a permit is set in motion. The Palestinian coordinator says that the Israelis aren't accepting any requests. He sends it on September 19th.

The fact is, that on September 15th, for the Jewish New Year, all the territories and so all the check points are subject to a total closure and after the invasion at the end of September, dubbed Operation Day of Repentance, Gaza remained closed for months.

 

When the death of one person helps a dying person to live.

On September 27th a delegation of Israeli women doctors travel to Gaza to talk with the Israeli commanding officer. After a long wait, no commanding officer but an officer commits himself to facilitate Fatma's passage.

The next day, Fatma and her mother arrive at the check point. They wait until 5 pm. Fatma is suffering and lies down on the ground because there is nowhere else to rest or sit.  Finally, the check starts. The soldier asks Fatma to take off her clothes because the security system shows that there is something in her chest. Fatma obeys and tries to explain that following her operation she has silicon in her breast. Another soldier arrives. He shouts at her in Arabic saying that it is forbidden to undress. Fatma explains the order that she was given, but no luck - she and her mother are sent back. The officer explains to the PHR that the two women did not pass the security checks.

The rigmarole starts again - the permit is finally ready in the morning of September 29th. Fatma is in an ambulance with other patients, all going to the same hospital. On the road to Beit Lahiyah near  Erez, the ambulance is forced to stop because of military operations. At 4:30pm they are still stopped, an attempt to reach Erez by another route has failed. At 5:40 pm the ambulance and its passengers return to Gaza.

Impossible to send the medicines from  Tel Ashomer hospital, all routes are closed and prohibited.

Fatma had a permit but the roads were destroyed and occupied by tanks. Impossible for ambulances to pass. A new request for a permit and another wait.

By 4th October, still not permit, and Fatma is admitted to the hospital in Gaza and is in a oxygen tent. A patient with cancer dies leaving two days of chemotherapy unused. They use them for Fatma.

 But don't they say you don't fire on the Red Cross?

A week later, the commanding officer tells PHR to present a request for a new permit to the Palestinian health coordinator, Ahmad Abu Raza, but he is stuck in the curfew at the Nuseirat refugee camp. The next day he arrives in Gaza but cannot present Fatma's request because the Israeli fax is broken.

It's true, the doctors of PHR confirm it and ask the Israelis to coordinate directly with Ahmad. The do so but say that from now on a permit isn't enough, coordination will also be required. The morning of October 14th, Fatma can't manage to stand up. She can only go in an ambulance but ambulances can't pass because the roads have been destroyed. PHR manager to find a Red Cross vehicle, the only kind capable of driving through the ruins. But it's not over. Around 1pm, before arriving at Erez, near to the village of  Abraj al-Awda, the Red Cross vehicle is fired on by Israeli soldiers. Only at 7pm does it succeed it continuing the journey to the check point.

A month has passed since the first chemotherapy appointment.

Fatma's agony finished on the day when she finally closed her eyes for the last time: 24th December 2004.

The agony of her family and millions of Palestinians continues.

On January 1st 2006 at the Erez check point, as we were re-entering Israel, there was an 80 year old man who also hand to go to the  Tel Ashomer hospital. He was full of tubes and in a wheel chair.  With his aged wife he had been waiting at the checkpoint all afternoon. The wheelchair was not allowed, a security issue, and he couldn't stand and didn't manage to speak. I phoned an Israeli officer who wasn't in Gaza. I implored - it's a humanitarian issue and anyway we (18 Italians) would not leave until he was allowed to pass. After some hours and many more calls, the gate opened. The woman hugged me and smiled radiantly.

With extreme difficulty, I controlled my anger, pain, and indignation. I even thanked the Israeli officer. I ask myself for long will we allow this to continue. How long will the international community allow this destruction of rights, of compassion, and of humanity. I know. It's a rhetorical question. 

 

 (translation from Italian by Jane Reynolds - women in black Italy)