A sick Palestinian boy lies at the European hospital in the Gaza Strip December 5, 2007. Palestinians suffering serious illnesses have long travelled from Gaza to nearby Israeli hospitals for treatments unavailable at facilities in the territory, which is home to 1.5 million people and was occupied by Israel for 38 years until 2005. However Israel has tightened border restrictions since Hamas Islamists seized control of the coastal enclave in June. It also prevents access to Gaza by sea or air and has ensured a border crossing into Egypt is mostly shut -- so hundreds cannot get the care that could save lives. To match feature PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL/HEALTH REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA)