Gaza (Monitoring Desk): The Ministry of Health in Gaza has claimed that Israel is preventing around 17,000 Palestinian patients, who require urgent medical care, from traveling abroad for treatment.
According to Arab media, Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely devastated during the ongoing war since October 2023, leading to delays in treatment and loss of lives.
Acting Undersecretary of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Maher Shamiyah, said that the Rafah border crossing was partially opened in February but has been repeatedly closed temporarily.
He added that Palestinians are allowed to leave Gaza only on limited days of the week, while the Kerem Abu Salem crossing for medical evacuation is also opened for extremely restricted periods.
According to Dr. Shamiyah, continuous closures have left patients facing severe difficulties, and he held Israel responsible for the situation.
He appealed to human rights organizations to exert pressure to ensure free movement for patients in need of treatment.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged Israel to immediately open all border crossings in Gaza and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
A joint report by the United Nations and the European Union stated that Gaza’s development has regressed by decades, with reconstruction requiring billions of dollars, along with massive funding for infrastructure and economic recovery.