Gaza Health Ministry claims Israel is obstructing medical evacuations

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has accused Israel of turning medical evacuations into a “time trap” by implementing strict restrictions and delaying approvals. According to a ministry statement, a planned 17-day evacuation schedule for October was only implemented for seven days due to Israeli obstructions, allowing only 209 patients to leave the territory for treatment.

The ministry reported that approximately 21,000 patients are currently registered and waiting for medical treatment abroad, including 5,803 children and 4,800 tumor patients. The statement noted that 2,027 people, including 264 children, have died while waiting for evacuation due to closed borders.

The ministry called on the international community to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and ensure that border crossings are opened regularly and permanently for the transfer of patients and the wounded.