Gaza Herald – Gaza is facing a deepening healthcare crisis, with approximately 20,000 injured and ill patients in urgent need of treatment abroad. These cases include individuals suffering from severe war-related injuries, chronic illnesses, and conditions that require specialized medical procedures unavailable within the territory due to the collapse of the healthcare system.
According to official data from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 1,268 patients have died while waiting for permission to travel for medical treatment since the closure of the Rafah crossing. Among those still waiting are around 440 cases classified as life-threatening, alongside 4,500 children, 6,000 wounded individuals, and approximately 4,000 cancer patients.
The ongoing restrictions on movement, combined with shortages of medical supplies, equipment, and specialized personnel, have significantly limited the ability of local hospitals to provide adequate care. Even after the ceasefire, the healthcare infrastructure remains severely damaged, with many facilities either destroyed or operating at minimal capacity.
Medical referrals for treatment abroad continue to accumulate, but only a small fraction of patients have been able to leave the Gaza Strip. This gap between urgent medical need and actual access to care highlights a critical bottleneck in the humanitarian response.
Overall, the figures underscore a large-scale medical emergency, where thousands of patients remain in prolonged uncertainty, facing deteriorating health conditions due to delayed or denied access to essential treatment outside Gaza.
