Child’s death brings the number of the siege’s martyrs to 368

One of the most damning statistics of the Israeli-led siege on Gaza was added-to on Monday when a three year-old boy, who was not allowed to travel abroad for treatment, died. Mayssara Hussam Ibrahim Musa suffered from congenital heart problems and his death brings to 368 the number of Palestinians whose deaths are attributable directly to the siege of the Palestinian territory. Gaza’s Health Ministry said in a statement that the child “has joined the list of martyrs of the siege”. He was scheduled to travel for treatment abroad, but the closure of the crossings prevented him from doing so.

The Ministry added that the blockade, which is still imposed on the Palestinians, is expected to claim even more victims as the stock of medicines and medical supplies is depleted. Combined with the closure of the borders and strict limits on the number of patients allowed to travel, the siege is having a deadly effect without the need for any more shots to be fired or bombs to be dropped.

The Ministry of Health appealed to people of conscience around the world to stand with the Palestinians and put pressure on the Israeli and Egyptian governments to end the brutal blockade that violates the rights of the one and a half million people eking out an existence in the Gaza Strip.