Patients and wounded in Gaza strip

Thousands of patients in the Gaza Strip are facing complex and difficult health conditions, and the lives of a large number of them are threatened, as a result of the continued closure of the Rafah crossing.

Despite the increasing talk about the imminent opening of the crossing, hopes in Gaza remain modest, with most expectations indicating that only a limited number of patients will be able to travel daily if the crossing is opened soon.




The lives of 20,000 patients are at stake





Around 20,000 patients are living in extremely dangerous health conditions, and their lives are threatened. They are waiting for the crossing to be opened so they can travel abroad for treatment.

According to information from the Ministry of Health, these patients are distributed among those suffering from critical injuries, kidney patients, cancer patients, children with heart problems, and infants born with congenital deformities.

Zaher Al-Wahidi, director of the Health Information Center at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed that there are more than 20,000 patients on waiting lists for treatment abroad, including 4,500 children, 4,000 cancer patients, and 6,000 wounded, including 440 very critical and urgent cases.

Al-Wahidi explained that the Ministry of Health in Gaza has lists ready of the names of patients to travel and receive treatment abroad as soon as the Rafah crossing is opened, adding that we do not have any information or data about the number of patients who will travel in the first batch if the crossing is opened.

He stressed that the continued closure of the crossing leads to the loss of patients’ lives daily, as 1,268 patients who were on waiting lists and were not allowed to travel have died so far. These numbers have been recorded since the closure of the Rafah crossing on May 7, 2024 until now.

Al-Wahidi explained that before the crossing was closed, about 50 patients out of 200-250 travelers used to travel daily.

He pointed out that since the closure of the Rafah crossing due to the Israeli invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, only 3,100 patients have been evacuated in 20 months.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammed Abu Nada, the medical director of the Gaza Cancer Center, confirmed that the cessation of transferring cancer patients for treatment abroad after the closure of the crossing led to the spread of the disease and the deterioration of cases, resulting in death.

Abu Nada explained that the medical capabilities in Gaza are very weak, and that the chemotherapy treatment currently available dates back 30 years, with a limited success rate, due to the lack of modern treatments despite the World Health Organization's attempts to introduce them.




Death and oppression





The baby, Sajoud Alian, breathed her last breaths just 7 days after her birth, after being denied permission to travel abroad for treatment, even though she was supposed to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment abroad immediately after her birth.

According to Sajoud’s family, she was suffering from a blockage in the aorta and two holes in her heart, which required urgent medical intervention that was not available inside the besieged sector. If she had been allowed to travel, she could have been treated in specialized centers, but she lost her life because of the siege.

Sajoud was not the only one who faced this fate. Thousands of patients have died or are threatened with death as a result of the siege and the closure of the crossings, especially kidney patients, cancer patients, and newborn infants suffering from congenital deformities.

According to the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the cessation of bombing has not led to an improvement in the health situation in Gaza, stressing that hospitals are facing a very dangerous stage with the increasing number of patients, a severe shortage of medicines, and the continuation of daily deaths.

Abu Salmiya revealed that about 50% of kidney dialysis patients have been lost, with daily deaths continuing to be recorded, due to the absence of more than 70% of their medications, noting that cancer patients are facing a similar shortage that threatens their lives.

He pointed out that hospitals are currently operating at more than 150% of their capacity, amid a near-total lack of medicines and medical supplies, describing the current stage as one of the worst health stages that the sector has gone through since the start of the war.



Preventing the arrival of medical supplies and delegations




The occupation did not stop at preventing travel, as the health sector in Gaza is facing an unprecedented collapse as a result of the continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of medicines, medical supplies, fuel, and specialized delegations, which has led to hospitals going out of service, a severe shortage of up to 70% in basic medical supplies and consumables, the spread of epidemics, and the threat to the lives of thousands of wounded and sick people, especially in Rafah and the southern part of the Strip.

Dr. Alaa Halas, Director of Pharmaceutical Care at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed that the large shortage of medicines currently recorded is the highest in two years, exceeding even the most severe periods during the war, which portends serious repercussions for the lives of thousands of patients, especially those with chronic diseases, cancer, kidney and heart diseases.

Helles stressed that this unprecedented deficit reflects a rapidly deteriorating health system, given the continued prevention by the occupation of the entry of medical supplies and specialized delegations.

He explained that the Ministry of Health is suffering from a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, as a large percentage of vital medicines have run out, and the shortage of medical supplies has exceeded two-thirds of the list, which has greatly limited the ability of hospitals to provide their basic and emergency services.

He pointed out that the impact of this shortage was directly reflected in specialized services, as the capabilities of operating rooms and intensive care units declined, and delicate surgical services, including open-heart surgeries and specialized orthopedic surgeries, were stopped or reduced.

Cancer, blood disease and dialysis services were also affected, leading to a reduction or suspension of sessions in some facilities.

Helles stressed that the continued prevention of the entry of medicines and medical supplies, along with preventing the entry of specialized medical delegations, represents a form of "indirect killing" of patients in Gaza, where health conditions deteriorate as a result of the forced interruption of regular treatment, and may end in death in some cases.

Zaher Al-Wahidi appealed to humanitarian and international organizations to work diligently to open the Rafah crossing urgently and continuously, stressing at the same time the need to bring in specialized medical delegations to support the health personnel in Gaza, with the need to help in repairing what can be repaired of the health facilities to ensure the continued provision of necessary medical services.




Israel imposes its control over the crossing




The so-called "Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories" announced that the opening of the Rafah crossing during the past two days was an initial trial phase in coordination with the European mission and Egypt.

The coordinator confirmed that actual traffic will begin at the Rafah crossing in both directions as soon as preparations are completed.

The "coordinator" in the occupation government indicated that residents would be allowed to enter and exit through the Rafah crossing in coordination with Egypt, following Israeli security approval and under European supervision, noting that the Rafah crossing would operate according to the mechanism implemented in January 2025.

The coordinator noted that those who left during the war will be able to return from Egypt to Gaza with Egyptian coordination after Israeli security approval, and that the European mission will carry out the initial examination followed by additional procedures at the axis under the control of the army.