14
Nov 2014
A
Norwegian doctor, Mads Gilbert, has been hit with a lifetime ban from entering
Gaza by the Israeli government.
Israeli authorities cited security reasons for
shutting Doctor Gilbert out from the Gaza Strip.
The Norwegian
67-year-old has travelled to and from Gaza to treat Palestinians. This summer,
the chief physician who lives and works in northern Norway, was back working at
Shifa hospital, Gaza, where he spend more than 50 days treating many of the
11,000 injured.
The doctor
was attempting to return to the region in October to help in the hospital and
was stopped by Israeli officials from entering.
Gilbert says:
“When we came back to the Erez border station, the Israeli soldiers told me
that I could not go in to Gaza.”
Now the
Israeli government is stating that Gilbert is banned for security reasons,
according to an email from the Norwegian embassy in Tel Aviv. The embassy took
up the case on Gilbert's behalf after he was refused entry last month.
Norway's
Secretary of State, Bård Glad Pedersen, said to VG: “From the Norwegian
perspective, we have raised Gilbert's exclusion from Gaza and asked Israel to
change their decision. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is still difficult
and there is a need for all health workers.”
Gilbert
himself believes the decision is connected to his critical comments against the
state of Israel.
The outspoken
peace activist wrote a letter to the global media in July this year in which he
spoke about the extreme conditions at the Gaza hospital where he worked.
Who is doctor
Mads Gilbert?
Born in Oslo,
1947.
Head
physician specializing in anesthesiology at University Hospital of North
Norway.
Over 30 years
working in international conflict areas, especially Gaza.
Awards
include Fritt Ords Honorary Prize (2009).
Appointed
Commander to the Order of St Olaf (2013).
Received PhD
at University of Iowa.
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