In a significant humanitarian effort, Israeli authorities have evacuated over 200 seriously ill Palestinians from Gaza. This operation marks one of the largest medical evacuations in recent months, occurring amidst escalating tensions and dire conditions in the region. The evacuation was conducted under the supervision of Cogat, the Israeli military’s humanitarian division, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The operation facilitated the passage of 231 Gazans through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, including patients suffering from various serious health conditions such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, and kidney diseases. However, the WHO has reported that approximately 14,000 individuals still await medical evacuation.
Since the closure of crossings following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2022, access to medical care has been severely restricted. Between November and May, around 4,900 Palestinian patients were able to leave Gaza for treatment after Egypt reopened its Rafah crossing for medical evacuations. Yet, only 229 patients managed to depart since May as borders tightened again.
In addition to the evacuation efforts, the WHO announced the completion of a polio vaccination campaign throughout Gaza. Following a recent polio case—the first recorded in 25 years—Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that 94% of children under ten received two vaccine doses since September.
Despite these efforts, Dr. Tedros expressed concern that between 7,000 and 10,000 children remain vulnerable due to being unreachable for their vaccinations. Parts of northern Gaza were excluded from this campaign due to ongoing military operations.
As military activities intensify in regions like Beit Lahia and Jabalia, where Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim to target Hamas fighters, civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire. Residents have been urged to evacuate through designated safe routes amidst reports of heavy bombardments.
While Wednesday’s evacuation has been seen as a positive step forward, it represents only a small fraction of those requiring urgent medical attention. With 19 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals non-operational and others functioning at limited capacity, healthcare access remains critically low.
Dr. Marwan Abu Saada from al-Shifa Medical Complex highlighted the urgent need for international assistance. He pointed out that children suffering from leukemia and other severe conditions urgently require treatment abroad.
As international pressure mounts on Israel to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza—described by UN officials as “apocalyptic”—the need for sustained aid will only grow if hostilities continue.
Looking ahead, both local and global stakeholders must collaborate to address these escalating challenges effectively while prioritizing humanitarian needs amid ongoing conflict.
An Israeli military spokesperson informed the BBC that a lethal strike was executed on a five-story residential building in Beit Lahia, situated in northern Gaza, due to the presence of an individual on the roof using binoculars to observe Israeli troops.
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