My condolences.....

to my dearest friend S in Gaza that lost his big sister R today. 

Now during the war, it's easy to think about the bombs killing civilians and the missing humanitarian corridors, but the 16-years-long blockade has constantly taken lives by preventing the hospitals in Gaza from having the right equipment and medicines, and by preventing far too many people from getting treatment outside Gaza. The occupying power has a long list of medical equipments, diagnostic devices and medicine that is not allowed to enter Gaza. Lack of medical service puts the lives of hundreds of patients at risk every years since 2007.

Medical fields like  oncology, haematology, various orthopaedic conditions, certain  eye diseases, several life threatening conditions can't be treated in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.  This is a violation of humanitarian law and is well documented monthly by the World Health Organization, UN and others. 

S's sister R had a medical condition that could not be treated in Gaza and today she died.  S has already lost over 40 family members, including many children due to the bombing. To loose his sister that was as a reserve mum for him is specially hard for him. 

It's heartbreaking to know that she has been denied her right to medical care for so long, and that she the last 2 months has been fleeing from bombs and living in fear and in the most extreme and inhumane conditions.  The war must end, the occupation must end, the siege must end!