Since the military offensive in Gaza ended, the already struggling health sector has faced an uphill battle to get back on its feet. During the ongoing blockade it has been plagued by shortages in equipment and medical supplies. World Health Organization (WHO) trucks of medical equipment bound for Gazan hospitals have repeatedly been turned away, without
explanation, by Israeli border officials. Following the Israeli closure of crossings, people with medical conditions that cannot be treated in Gaza have been required to apply for permits to leave the territory to receive treatment in either foreign hospitals or Palestinian hospitals in the West Bank. The Israeli authorities frequently delay or
refuse these permits.
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The WHO has pointed out the risks arising from delays to those in urgent need of medical treatment, and has indicated that 28 patients died while waiting for their permits in 2009, 14 of whom were waiting to pass through the Erez crossing into Israel. It is possible that some of these
deaths might not have occurred but for delays caused by the blockade.

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During Operation “Cast Lead”, Israel extended the “buffer zone” it imposes on Palestinian land along the eastern and
northern edge of the Gaza Strip. This zone now extends two kilometres into the Gaza Strip in some places, swallowing 30 per cent of Gaza’s agricultural land. Farmers and other Palestinians entering this area risk being shot by the Israeli military. The Israeli military also regularly fires at Palestinian fishermen to enforce its ban on fishing more than three nautical miles off the coast of Gaza – just one indication of Israel’s continuing control over Gaza’s borders and airspace.
Fishing used to be a major industry in Gaza providing much-needed employment and income to local families. Since 2000, when Palestinians were permitted to fish up to 20 nautical miles offshore, the Israeli authorities have progressively reduced the area in which they allow Palestinian fishermen to work. Following Operation “Cast Lead” the permitted fishing area wasdecreased further still from up to six to just three nautical miles – even so, some of the fishermen in Gaza port have complained to Amnesty International that they get shot at after just two and half miles. Waters closest to the coast typically have low quantities of small fish. This limited catch, combined with rising fuel prices, mean that taking out the larger boats risks making an overall loss. Gazan fishermen increasingly use small boats for their meagre catches, leaving the larger boats unused and rusting in the harbour.