DaysofPal- Mohammed Zaqout, Director General of Hospitals at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, has revealed that over 12,000 patients and wounded individuals are in urgent need of medical treatment abroad due to the dire state of Gaza’s healthcare system, noting that the system, already weakened by years of blockade, has collapsed under the strain of more than 15 months of continuous Israeli military operations in the Strip.
In an exclusive statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Sunday, Zaqout emphasized that over 6,000 cases—comprising both patients and victims of recent Israeli attacks—are currently prepared to travel outside Gaza for medical care.
However, he warned that the limited number of individuals permitted to leave daily through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.
On the second day of the Rafah crossing’s reopening following a ceasefire agreement, 46 patients, wounded individuals, and their companions were allowed to exit Gaza.
Zaqout expressed hope that the daily quota would increase soon, as the current numbers fail to meet the urgent needs of thousands of critical cases requiring specialized medical interventions unavailable in Gaza’s hospitals.
A technical committee has been reviewing and prioritizing cases for months, Zaqout explained, with 50 children and their companions transferred to Egyptian hospitals on Saturday.
While Egypt has agreed to treat some patients, Zaqout called for international cooperation to accommodate additional cases in other countries, stressing that Gaza’s healthcare system is no longer capable of providing adequate care.
The Rafah crossing, closed since early May when Israeli forces took control of the area, reopened temporarily as part of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, 2025.
Under the terms of the truce, 50 wounded and sick individuals, along with their companions, are permitted to leave Gaza daily.
However, Zaqout noted that this mechanism falls short of addressing the overwhelming demand, leaving thousands in critical condition without access to life-saving treatment.
The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, including its healthcare facilities, leaving the population reliant on international aid and medical evacuations.
Zaqout’s appeal highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global response to prevent further loss of life in the besieged enclave.
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