DaysofPal – More than 20,000 sick and injured people are awaiting medical treatment abroad, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which also stressed that the humanitarian crisis is far worse than the partial operation of the Rafah border crossing.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said it is following with deep concern and frustration the continued closure and restricted, limited operation of the Rafah land crossing. In addition to individuals with severe injuries needing advanced surgical procedures that are not available in the enclave because of the blockade and repeated targeting of the healthcare system, the ministry stated that critically ill patients with cancer, heart disease, and kidney failure are among those waiting to travel.
Although a partial reopening of the Rafah crossing was announced on February 2, 2026, the ministry said the number of patients allowed to leave so far remains extremely limited and does not match the scale of the rapidly escalating health crisis. It emphasized that partial operation is an insufficient measure that does not meet even the minimum humanitarian obligations owed to the sick and wounded.
The ministry also reported receiving painful testimonies from patients and injured individuals who were permitted to travel for treatment abroad. They described facing restrictive measures and unjustified complications, reflecting a systematic policy that deepens their psychological and physical suffering and increases the burdens placed upon them under already severe medical and humanitarian conditions.
It warned that continuing to operate the Rafah crossing under this restrictive mechanism, which limits the number of travelers and slows medical evacuations, poses a direct threat to the lives of thousands of patients. Such practices further aggravate the humanitarian and health situation and place legal and moral responsibility on the international community.
The Ministry of Health called for the permanent and regular opening of the Rafah land crossing to ensure the free movement of patients and wounded individuals without restrictions or delays. It also demanded urgent and immediate evacuation for those in critical condition and an increase in the number of people permitted to travel in proportion to the accumulated medical need.
The ministry urged relevant international and humanitarian bodies to intervene immediately and apply pressure to guarantee patients’ right to treatment and travel, describing it as a fundamental human right protected under international laws and conventions.
It concluded by affirming that patients’ lives are not numbers that can be postponed. Delays in allowing them to travel for treatment threaten further loss of life and require urgent and responsible action to end the deepening suffering.
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