Health minister issues directive barring treatment of Gazans in Israeli hospitals

By Renee Ghert-Zand

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19 January 2024, 4:14 pm

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Renee Ghert-Zand is the health reporter and a feature writer for The Times of Israel.

Health Minister Uriel Busso when he was Knesset Health Committee chair moderating deliberations over health insurance reform on May 14, 2023. (Noam Moshkovitz/Knesset Spokesperson's Office)

Health Minister Uriel Busso orders Health Ministry director-general Moshe Bar Siman-Tov this morning to immediately cancel instructions issued yesterday by defense officials allowing the treatment of Gazans and individuals from Lebanon in Israeli hospitals.

Busso says that the policy of allowing treatment of Gazan terrorists, and others from combat areas brought into the country by the IDF, only in IDF medical facilities has not changed.

The minister claims that the instructions issued by the defense establishment yesterday were sent to hospital administrators without his knowledge or approval and that no formal discussion occurred between him, Health Ministry staff and defense representatives.

Busso directed Bar Siman-Tov today to inform defense officials that any requests for changes to the policy that has been in place since soon after October 7 must be brought to him and be considered in serious, professional deliberations under his auspices.