A few Gaza patients have crossed through Rafah… and thousands are waiting
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Under complex procedures imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was reopened in both directions, allowing only a very limited number of patients to leave and return each day. This number falls far short of the immense travel needs in the Gaza Strip, where more than 20,000 patients and injured individuals are in dire need of medical treatment abroad.
Patients from Gaza expressed to Al-Quds Al-Arabi their fear of suffering the same fate as those who died from illness while waiting their turn in the long queues.
On the first day the crossing reopened, 50 patients left after receiving calls late Sunday night from the Ministry of Health, instructing them to arrive at the designated assembly point early. A similar number returned to Gaza.
Travelers are subjected to complicated procedures on the Palestinian side of the crossing due to the new mechanism imposed by the occupation, which has resulted in the complete destruction of the crossing’s terminals and the installation of mobile units in their place.
Cairo News Channel reported that hospitals in Egypt’s North Sinai Governorate and neighboring governorates have been placed on high alert. In Gaza, the Ministry of Health and international aid organizations stated that 20,000 patients and injured individuals urgently need to travel abroad for treatment, as such treatments are unavailable in Gaza.
A man in his late forties, known as Abu Ismail, told Al-Quds Al-Arabi that World Health Organization staff contacted him several times, most recently more than four months ago, to confirm that his name had been officially added to the list of patients requiring urgent medical intervention and that he should expect a call informing him of his travel date.
He added, “Since that day, I have been waiting to travel.”
