Gaza hospitals warn of hundreds in critical condition waiting for treatment abroad
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- Gaza hospitals report hundreds of critically ill patients on waiting lists for treatment abroad.
- Officials warn current transfer pace is insufficient, risking further deaths amid healthcare collapse.
Gaza’s Shifa Medical Complex reports 450 critically ill patients on waiting lists for treatment outside the Strip, as the number of daily patient transfers through Rafah crossing drops sharply.
Read more: Palestinian killed, thousands seek urgent medical aid abroad in Gaza
Limited Transfers Fail Humanitarian Needs
Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Shifa Complex, told Al Jazeera that the daily quota for patients leaving Gaza has been reduced from 50 to just five, along with their companions, describing the figure as “far below the minimum humanitarian requirements”.
Medical committees prioritize cases based on severity, but Abu Salmiya said roughly 450 patients in extremely critical condition remain on waiting lists, with fatalities occurring nearly every day due to delays in transfers.
Read more: 20,000 Patients at risk as Rafah Crossing remains closed, Gaza health ministry warns
He added that Israeli authorities previously rejected 7 to 10 cases from each list of 50 patients, including children and women, without explanation. The new arrangement allows only five patients with 10 companions to leave as an “initial trial,” far below the previous agreement of 50 patients with 100 companions. Abu Salmiya warned that at this rate, it could take years to transfer all patients, with more deaths inevitable.
Health System on the Brink
Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Medical Relief Association in Gaza, confirmed the severity of the situation, noting that urgent priority is given to intensive care patients and those in critical condition. The total number of patients needing urgent transfers exceeds 4,700.
Abu Afash said more than 20,000 patients are waiting for treatment outside Gaza, including around 5,000 children with severe medical conditions. Over 1,280 patients have died due to medication shortages and delays in transfers.
The healthcare system is facing widespread collapse, with severe shortages of painkillers, medical supplies, and essential medications. Living conditions are deteriorating, with water shortages affecting large areas.
Call for Urgent Humanitarian Measures
Both Abu Salmiya and Abu Afash called for a clear and rapid humanitarian mechanism to transfer patients without obstacles and for urgent support to rehabilitate Gaza’s healthcare system. They warned that failure to act will lead to a rise in deaths in the coming weeks.
Earlier today, Al Jazeera reported that Rafah crossing reopened in both directions for individuals, following the Israeli army’s completion of an internal checkpoint.
