Arabic version: إسرائيل تمنع الوصول الطبي لأكثر من 16,500 فلسطيني
Gaza’s Health Ministry has accused Israel of preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians in need of medical treatment abroad from leaving the besieged, wartorn enclave despite a nominal ceasefire being in place since October 2023. The ministry warned that delays caused by these restrictions are effectively killing patients, following a genocidal war on the enclave that has already claimed nearly 73,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023.
According to Al Jazeera, the healthcare system in Gaza is facing significant challenges, with reports indicating systematic destruction attributed to Israeli actions aimed at making the region uninhabitable. Patients have been restricted from accessing the Rafah crossing to Egypt, which was partially reopened in February after nearly two years of closure, but has since faced multiple temporary closures.
Maher Shamia, acting undersecretary of Gaza’s Health Ministry, stated that the crossing is only open for patient evacuations three days a week, with just one day allocated for medical evacuations at the Karem Abu Salem crossing to Israel. Shamia emphasized that the ongoing closure of the Rafah border crossing is the primary reason for the healthcare crisis. He urged human rights organizations to pressure Israel to allow Palestinians to freely enter and exit Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with nearly 90 percent of the population displaced and experiencing high levels of food insecurity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate reopening of all crossings into Gaza, urging for unhindered humanitarian aid access. He expressed deep concern over the restrictions imposed by Israel, which have further complicated the humanitarian crisis.
In a joint assessment, the UN and European Union revealed that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77 years, estimating that over $71 billion will be needed for recovery and reconstruction. Essential services and critical infrastructure have been devastated, and both bodies emphasized the urgent need for aid and support to facilitate economic recovery. Peace talks between Israel and Hamas remain stalled, with significant sticking points still unresolved.
