DaysofPal- The dire healthcare crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached catastrophic levels, with 22,000 patients and wounded requiring urgent medical treatment abroad due to the near-collapse of the local health system. Zaher al-Wahidi, director of the Health Information Unit at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, revealed these alarming figures during an interview with Filastin newspaper, warning that the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing is putting thousands of lives at immediate risk.
A Strangled Lifeline
Of the 22,000 individuals in critical need of overseas care, 13,000 have already completed their medical referrals and are awaiting travel dates through the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza. However, since the Israeli occupation resumed its military aggression on March 18, only a small fraction—1,100 patients—have been permitted to leave via Rafah, while another 370 were allowed passage through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint after May 7, 2024.
Al-Wahidi emphasized that this severe restriction not only defies humanitarian protocols but also constitutes a de facto death sentence for countless patients. “The continued closure of Rafah threatens the lives of cancer patients, those with life-threatening injuries, and others who require specialized care unattainable within the besieged territory,” he warned. Tragically, 328 patients have already died while waiting for approval to travel—a figure likely to rise if conditions do not improve.
Escalating Medical Needs Amid War
The renewed Israeli aggression has exacerbated the situation, leaving over 1,869 citizens injured, many suffering from second- and third-degree burns, amputations, and extensive tissue damage. Al-Wahidi noted that approximately 25% of these severe cases will require long-term rehabilitation, while 15% urgently need medical referrals abroad. Yet, with no clear mechanism or adherence to agreed-upon humanitarian protocols, the list of patients grows longer by the day, overwhelming Gaza’s already fragile health infrastructure.
Currently, around 9,000 patients remain stuck in limbo, awaiting completion of their medical transfer procedures. Among them are 330 cases classified as needing life-saving interventions, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Another 4,940 emergency cases represent nearly 38% of total referrals, further straining limited resources.
Broken Promises and Humanitarian Failures
Under the ceasefire agreement brokered on January 19 between Palestinian resistance groups and Israeli occupation —with American, Qatari, and Egyptian sponsorship, it was stipulated that 200 patients per day would be allowed to travel through the Rafah crossing. This commitment, however, remains largely unfulfilled. According to al-Wahidi, the current daily average hovers below 40 approvals, far short of the agreed-upon quota.
The process, mediated by the World Health Organization (WHO), involves submitting patient names from the Ministry of Health in Gaza to the Israeli occupation for coordination and authorization. But instead of facilitating safe passage, the Israeli refusal to honor the agreement has left thousands stranded inside Gaza, where hospitals teeter on the brink of collapse.
Catastrophic Shortages and Overcrowded Hospitals
The prolonged closure of Rafah has had devastating ripple effects across Gaza’s healthcare system. Al-Wahidi described a rapidly deteriorating scenario marked by severe shortages of essential medical supplies, equipment, and consumables. Items critical for heart surgeries, intensive care units, dialysis treatments, and emergency rooms are dwindling fast.
“We face impossible choices every day,” al-Wahidi lamented. “Our resources are depleted, forcing us to prioritize some surgeries over others. Even basic services like oxygen supply are under threat.” The ministry lost 10 oxygen stations during the war, forcing staff to manually change oxygen cylinders—an unsustainable practice given the scale of demand.
Compounding the crisis is the lack of fuel and electricity generators needed to power hospitals. With less than two weeks of reserves remaining, al-Wahidi warned of an impending shutdown of vital healthcare facilities. Bed occupancy rates in Gaza exceed 120%, particularly in the northern governorates, creating unbearable strain on overwhelmed medical teams.
Appeals for International Intervention
To address the mounting pressure, the ministry has called for the establishment of field hospitals and the deployment of international medical delegations to assist local healthcare workers. While some countries, including Egypt, Italy, Romania, and the UAE, have accepted specific categories of patients such as children and cancer sufferers, there remains a glaring absence of coordinated efforts to host larger numbers.
Al-Wahidi criticized the lack of clear criteria from potential host nations, urging the international community to intervene decisively. “We need urgent action to pressure the occupation into allowing safe passage for our patients,” he said. “Every delay costs more lives.”
Genocide by Neglect
Against this backdrop, the broader context of Israeli criminal actions since October 7, 2023, backed by U.S. support, paints a grim picture of systematic neglect and devastation. More than 164,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, the majority being women and children, alongside over 14,000 missing persons believed buried under rubble. The blockade on Rafah stands as yet another chapter in what many describe as a genocide unfolding in plain sight.
A Cry for Help
For Gaza’s sick and wounded, time is running out. Each day brings new challenges, from dwindling supplies to overcrowded wards and dying hopes of survival. As al-Wahidi concluded, “Our people deserve dignity and care. They deserve a chance to live. If the world does not act now, history will judge it harshly.”
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