Gaza Herald – Nearly 50 Palestinian journalists in Gaza are urgently seeking medical evacuation after suffering severe war-related injuries or life-threatening illnesses that cannot be treated inside the besieged enclave. Many continue reporting despite chronic pain and worsening health, while others face deteriorating conditions after being denied access to specialized care abroad.
Among them is freelance photojournalist Mohammed al-Qahouji, who survived an Israeli airstrike in January 2024 that killed fellow journalists Hamza al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Abu Thuraya. He underwent more than 25 surgeries after sustaining devastating facial, spinal, and hand injuries, but doctors say he still requires complex reconstructive procedures and long-term rehabilitation unavailable in Gaza. Despite constant pain, he continues working to support his family.
Photojournalist Moaz al-Salhi faces a different battle. Diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease before the war, he was scheduled to begin biological treatment in October 2023, but the genocide halted his medical referral. Since then, his condition has steadily worsened, forcing repeated hospitalizations as he struggles to balance journalism with a rapidly declining health condition.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) says more than 40 journalists require urgent treatment abroad and has submitted their medical files to international organizations. During a recent sit-in in Gaza City, wounded journalists called for immediate medical evacuation, stressing that those who documented the war have now become victims of it themselves.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,500 patients across Gaza currently require urgent medical evacuation because specialized treatment is unavailable locally. However, only a limited number have been allowed to leave through tightly restricted evacuation mechanisms, leaving thousands trapped without access to life-saving care.
Journalists and rights advocates are urging international organizations to facilitate emergency medical transfers, warning that delays are placing lives at greater risk. For many injured reporters, the goal is not only survival but also the hope of recovering enough to return to documenting the stories of others.
