News - Middle East: Israeli media reports say that thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Israel have been left without medical attention amid lack of finances.

"Elderly cancer patients have been cut off from chemotherapy, individuals with chronic disease have lost access to medication, and hospitals have cancelled critical surgeries," Yanni Kranzler, the director of the Open Clinic for Migrants and Refugees at Physicians for Human Rights Israel, told Middle East Eye.
"We continue to urgently call on the regime to stop the abuse of refugees in Israel, and to provide them with health services immediately, as required by international law, medical ethics and basic human decency," Kranzler added.
On Thursday, the Israeli cabinet said it was unable to renew the medical coverage for nearly 14,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the occupied territories due to a lack of funding.
The announcement followed a promise to extend health insurance and social assistance benefits for the refugees until at least the end of 2023, after a two-week gap.
But the health, social affairs, and interior ministries on Wednesday all refused to provide medical and health services, asking that instead the treasury pay the entire costs totaling 40 million shekels or NIS ($11 million).
As part of a bilateral agreement, Ukrainians can travel to Israel without a visa and stay there up to three months.
After the Russia-Ukraine war erupted last year, Israel extended visas of non-Jewish refugees.
Ukrainian officials have decried Tel Aviv over its treatment of Ukrainian visitors throughout the duration of the war.