Ref: 34/2007

Date: 17 July  2007

As Israeli High Court Decided to Accept PCHR’s Appeal, Israeli Attorney General’ Office Retreats from Its Position and Allows Medical Treatment of a Palestinian in Israel

On Tuesday morning, 17 July 2007, PCHR lawyer has received a phone call from the Israeli Attorney General’s office informing that the office agreed to allow Fadi Mahmoud al-Hour, 22, to enter Israel to receive medical treatment. This position came after the Israeli High Court had decided that it was not convinced with the reasons provided by the Attorney General’s office to prevent al-Hour from entering Israel to receive medical treatment. The Court also accepted PCHR’s appeal in this regard and requested the Attorney General’s office to provide convincing reasons for the prevention of al-Hour from entering Israel. 

PCHR submitted an appeal to the Israeli High Court on 12 July 2007 to allow al-Hour to receive medical treatment at Israeli hospitals. On 16 July, the Court held a session to consider the appeal. In the session, the Israeli Attorney General’s office insisted on its position concerning the prevention of al-Hour from entering Israel, so the Court decided to accept PCHR’s appeal and requested the office to provide convincing reasons by Tuesday morning, 17 July 2007, to justify the prevention of his entry into Israel.

The Attorney General’s office retreated from its position and phoned PCHR lawyer informing him that al-Hour would be allowed to enter Israel to receive medical treatment, without sending a response to the High Court. Al-Hour was able to travel to an Israeli hospital today.

Al-Hour was seriously wounded throughout the body by shrapnel from a missile fired by Israeli Occupation Forces on 5 July 2007. His hand and leg were amputated. According to medical sources, his other leg is likely to be amputated. Due to the lack of advanced medical treatment in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Health decided to transfer him to an Israeli hospital.

Al-Hour’s case is one of scores of cases pursued by PCHR Legal Aid Unit. The unit has succeeded to ensure allowing a number of Palestinian patients to enter Israel to receive medical treatment, refuting all claims and pretexts presented by Israeli occupation authorities to prevent them from receiving medical treatment at Israeli hospitals.