In Gaza, the plight of patients awaiting medical evacuations has become increasingly dire, with reports indicating that around 300 individuals have died since a ceasefire began last October. Among them was Amina Abu al-Kas,whose son Saber described the agonizing wait for her treatment abroad as a harrowing experience. Amina suffered from a severe necrotizing infection that doctors in Gaza could not adequately treat.
After receiving approval from Gaza's medical board, Saber felt a flicker of hope. Amina was eager to leave the Strip,knowing that her condition was beyond capabilities of local healthcare. However, after her death on May 29, Saber received a call two weeks later informing him that her paperwork for evacuation was finally ready. “We waited a long time, but no response came,” he lamented.
The Hamas-run health ministry has reported that 15,000 patients are still waiting for treatment abroad, many suffering from war-related injuries or chronic conditions like cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) corroborates these figures,noting that since the ceasefire,only 1,977 patients have managed to leave Gaza for medical care. The lengthy security clearance process and restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have exacerbated the situation, leading to significant delays.
Dr. Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, WHO’s representative for the occupied Palestinian territory,explained that the selection process for patients is complicated. Countries often have specific criteria for accepting patients, which can include age restrictions or the nature of the medical treatment required. Additionally,patients must secure visas and clear security checks from Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the host country, further complicating their chances of evacuation.
In early June,Maher Shamia, the acting undersecretary of Gaza's health ministry, highlighted that the Israeli authorities limit the number of medical evacuations to just a handful each week. The Israeli defense ministry's civil affairs body,Cogat,stated that most requests for medical evacuations have been approved since the start of 2025,but the reality on the ground tells a different story .
Protests have erupted outside hospitals like al-Shifa in Gaza City, where families express their desperation. Nidal al-Arir pleaded for his son’s corneal transplant, while Raeda Nuaizi,a cancer patient, lamented the inadequacy of painkillers for her condition. “What can painkillers do for a cancer patient?” she cried, underscoring the urgent need for proper medical care.
Among those waiting is 14-year-old Muath al-Dini,who lost his leg in an airstrike and is battling spinal cancer. His mother,Umm Samir, recounted how he had previously received treatment in Jerusalem but has since been cut off from those services . “There are no medicines, and no doctors who understand my son's condition,” she said,illustrating the grim reality for many families in Gaza.
Eight months after ceasefire, healthcare system in Gaza remains in disarray. Hospitals are still recovering from damage, and essential medicines are scarce. Aid workers report that doctors are forced to ration supplies or share critical medications among patients. Pat Griffiths,a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross,emphasized that lengthy medical evacuation list reflects the lack of adequate healthcare access in Gaza, which is a responsibility of occupying power under international humanitarian law.
Despite claims from Israeli authorities that substantial medical aid has entered Gaza since the ceasefire, humanitarian officials argue that essential supplies remain restricted. A ith critical shortages of medicines and medical equipment persisting. “People in Gaza are dying because they can’t receive the care they need,” the official said, highlighting the preventable nature of many of these deaths.
As situation unfolds,the urgent need for a more efficient evacuation process and improved healthcare access remains critical for thousands of patients still waiting in Gaza.
