Suffocating Health Crisis: 18,000 Wounded and Sick in Gaza Await Medical Evacuation Amidst Strict Restrictions

The Israeli occupation continues to impose strict restrictions on movement through the Rafah crossing, which has deprived more than 18,000 wounded and sick individuals in the Gaza Strip of their opportunity to receive necessary treatment outside the Strip. Medical sources reported that the continued closure of crossings and the rationing of critical cases' exit place the dilapidated health system before unprecedented challenges, given the inability of local hospitals to deal with complex injuries and chronic diseases.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society revealed in recent statements that the number of patients who were able to leave the Strip since the limited reopening of the crossing on February 2nd did not exceed 700 cases. The society explained that this meager number reflects the large gap between the increasing medical needs and the pace of evacuation, which is subject to strict security control by the occupation authorities, exacerbating the suffering of thousands of those waiting.

For his part, the spokesperson for the Red Crescent, Raed Al-Nims, stated that the current pace of evacuation operations is absolutely disproportionate to the magnitude of the health catastrophe experienced by the residents of the Strip. Al-Nims pointed out that thousands of cases classified as critical face a real threat to their lives due to the severe shortage of medical supplies and specialized medicines, emphasizing that delays in granting security approvals prevent the timely rescue of the injured.

The spokesperson added that many patients have already passed away while on long waiting lists, without being able to reach external hospitals. He stressed that the selection of cases is based on precise medical criteria according to the degree of danger, but these criteria always clash with the procedural obstacles set by the occupation, leading to the deterioration of patients' health before their departure.

In conclusion of his statements, the Red Crescent issued an urgent appeal to the international community and UN organizations to intervene immediately to ensure the permanent and stable opening of crossings for humanitarian cases. The society demanded the necessity of neutralizing the medical file from any political or security considerations, and providing safe and sustainable corridors that ensure the flow of the wounded and injured to specialized treatment centers to save what can be saved of lives.

We are facing lives at stake, and there are patients who have passed away while waiting on long lists due to the absence of life-saving medical services.