“They wouldn’t let me through,” Khalil, an 8-year-old boy, tearfully recounted to NBC News after being separated from his family. “My brother went with my mom, he’s sick.” The evacuees departed through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, which had been reopened as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. As per the terms, the World Health Organization was overseeing the evacuation of 50 patients and wounded individuals daily.
While much attention was drawn to the release of hostages during the ceasefire, the ongoing medical evacuations were gradually addressing the immense healthcare needs in Gaza. “We must expedite the process as we estimate that between 12,000 to 14,000 critically ill patients require evacuation,” stated Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territories.
The conflict had ravaged Gaza’s infrastructure, leading to the collapse of its healthcare system. In addition to the surging number of war casualties, hundreds of thousands of individuals with acute and chronic illnesses were left without proper access to medication and treatment. From the onset of the war on October 7, 2023, until the ceasefire on January 19, Gaza’s healthcare facilities endured over 1200 direct attacks, including assaults on health centers and healthcare workers.
The Israeli Defense Forces accused Hamas of operating from hospitals, misusing ambulances, and diverting fuel supplies meant for medical purposes towards military activities – allegations that Hamas and hospital staff refuted. The crisis for patients, particularly children, remained dire, and tragically, for some, help arrived too late.
Dr. Muhammed Abu Salmiya, Director General of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, revealed that two children due for evacuation had passed away before they could be transported. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the immediate evacuation of 2,500 children with the promise of their eventual return to their families.
Prior to the closure of the Rafah crossing, medical evacuations were infrequent. Between October 2023 and May 2024, a collective effort involving the U.S., hospitals, NGOs, and local authorities facilitated the transport of only 150 patients, mostly children, for critical treatment. Following the closure of the Rafah crossing after its capture by Israeli forces in May 2024, such humanitarian efforts became exceedingly challenging.
The last notable evacuation took place in June, when 21 gravely ill children were successfully evacuated from the Gaza Strip.
