DaysofPal- The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Sunday the cancellation of scheduled patient travel from Gaza after the necessary security approvals were not granted by the Israeli occupation authorities.
In a statement, the ministry said that the primary reason for delays in patients reaching treatment is the limited number of individuals permitted to travel, in addition to prolonged waiting periods for Israeli security clearances, which can take several months.
The ministry said some 70 urgent life-saving medical cases have been submitted for travel approval in recent weeks. However, only five patients received the required security clearances, leaving the vast majority unable to access critical treatment.
The health ministry renewed its appeal to international organizations and UN agencies to intervene urgently by increasing the number of patients allowed to travel, reducing waiting times, and expediting procedures for life-threatening medical cases.
The ministry estimates that around 20,000 patients in Gaza currently require travel abroad to receive specialized medical treatment.
The Rafah crossing was partially reopened on February 2, 2026, during the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, following nearly 20 months of closure after Israeli forces took control of its Palestinian side in May 2024. However, the crossing was closed again at the end of February following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel conflict, before limited operations resumed during March and April.
On June 9, Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that Israel was preventing 17,000 Palestinians who had received medical referrals from traveling abroad for treatment, warning that the continued delays were increasing the number of deaths among patients awaiting urgent care.
Gaza’s healthcare system has suffered widespread collapse as a result of Israel’s military campaign, with extensive destruction to hospitals and medical infrastructure, compounded by severe shortages of medicines, fuel, and essential medical supplies.
Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007. According to Palestinian authorities, approximately 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been left homeless after their homes were destroyed during the genocide.
A ceasefire agreement was reached after more than two years of Israel’s genocidal campaign war, which began on October 8, 2023. According to Palestinian figures cited by the ministry, the conflict has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths and over 173,000 injuries, while nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed.
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