Jordanian volunteer doctors denied entry to Gaza via Rafah

AMMAN — Egyptian authorities have refused to allow a Jordanian medical delegation to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, Jordan Medical Association council member Bassem Kiswani said Monday.

The five Jordanian doctors were part of a European delegation that was denied entry to the coastal enclave, according to Kiswani. 

“The doctors returned to the Kingdom after negotiations with the Egyptian government failed,” Kiswani said.

The five doctors are Bilal Azzam, Tareq Tamimi, Wasfi Jaara, Walid Masoud and Saleh Abu Rumuh.

Preventing doctors from reaching Gaza to provide medical assistance to wounded people is a continuation of the Egyptian political stance, Kiswani said, calling for public pressure from the Egyptian people to urge their government to open the border crossing and let assistance reach Gazans.

Earlier this week, the professional associations began receiving volunteer doctors with specialisations needed in Gaza to be part of upcoming delegations going to the strip.

On Monday, the professional associations signed an agreement with the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) for the treatment of 70 Gazans injured in Israeli attacks, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Under the agreement, the PHA will cover the treatment costs of the patients while the professional associations will cover other administrative expenses when the patients are discharged and for those accompanying them.

The agreement is subject to change in terms of the number of patients and the details of the required treatments, according to Petra.