OMM Redaksiyası
Israel prevented Palestinian patients and wounded people in the Gaza Strip from traveling abroad for medical treatment on Monday for a second consecutive day, citing Jewish holidays, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
“For the second consecutive day, no patients or wounded people have been evacuated through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings because of holidays observed by the occupation,” the ministry said in a brief statement.
Yoram Halevi, Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, said the crossings in southern Gaza were closed on Sunday and Monday because of Jewish holidays.
Evacuations reduced before closures
The closures followed Israel’s decision on Thursday to reduce the number of patients, wounded people and companions scheduled to leave Gaza for treatment in Egypt from 136 to 61 Palestinians, according to an earlier Health Ministry statement.
The ministry described the decision as “a blatant violation of the right to treatment” and warned that hundreds of patients could face life-threatening delays in reaching specialized hospitals.
It called on the World Health Organization, the UN humanitarian chief and other international organizations to “intervene immediately and exert direct pressure” on Israeli authorities to end what it called “arbitrary conditions.”
Thousands remain on waiting list
In late August, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said thousands of patients in Gaza were still awaiting medical evacuation for urgent treatment.
He said 13,237 patients, including 6,276 children, and 16,406 companions had been evacuated from Gaza since October 2023. Gaza’s Health Ministry previously said 20,719 patients and wounded people remained on the waiting list to leave the territory for treatment.
Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing on Feb. 2 under strict restrictions, allowing limited departures of patients, wounded people and their companions, as well as the return of Palestinians from abroad. Israel has controlled the crossing since May 2024.
Months later, patients and wounded people were also allowed to leave through the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing. Palestinians returning to Gaza have reported Israeli mistreatment, including detention and lengthy interrogation, before being allowed to continue their journey.
Health system under continued strain
The closures come as Gaza’s health sector continues to suffer from the effects of Israel’s war. Official figures cited in the report say 445 attacks have targeted health facilities and damaged 155 facilities.
Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 others in its military campaign in Gaza, while destroying around 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure.
