Israel

Israel has denied a group of Israeli medical volunteers entry into the Gaza Strip, affecting the group’s ability to reach patients in the beleaguered enclave, an official told IRIN. “We had 350 patients waiting for us in Gaza,” said Salah Haj Yihye, the mobile clinic coordinator with the medical delegation from the Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, a NGO. They had planned to spend Oct, 8-10 in the enclave. The eight-member team was granted a permit on Oct. 6, but only when they arrived at the Erez Crossing to Gaza two days later were they informed that the permit had been “frozen.” (IRIN)