December 16, 2008

GAZA, (PIC)-- Mohammed Saad, 40, has died late on Monday evening after a "long battle with cancer" and after the Israeli occupation authority's siege blocked him from travel abroad for treatment, Palestinian medical sources said on Tuesday.

Muawiya Hasanein, director of ambulance and emergency in the PA health ministry, said in a press statement that the number of victims of the IOA siege thus rose to 271.

He warned that a noticeable increase in the number of victims would be witnessed in the few coming days especially cancer patients because the ministry has run out of cancer medications.

Meanwhile, MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular anti siege committee, said in a press release that more than 3,000 containers for Palestinian merchants were blocked at Israeli ports.

He added that the goods were already paid for and that many items were ruined as a result of remaining at the ports for long periods.

The IOA is tampering with the lives of one and a half million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Khudari said, adding that what the IOA allowed into Gaza over the past few days before closing the crossings today anew would suffice the Strip for a day or two.