Israel preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians from accessing medical treatment

Gaza’s Health Ministry has accused Israel of preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians in need of medical treatment abroad from leaving the besieged, wartorn enclave despite a nominal “ceasefire” being in place since October last year.

The ministry warned in a statement on Tuesday that Israel was killing patients with delays, after its genocidal war on the enclave killed nearly 73,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

The dire situation highlights the plight of the enclave’s healthcare system, which United Nations experts and aid groups have accused Israel of systematically destroying in an attempt to make Gaza uninhabitable.

According to authorities in Gaza, Israel has been restricting the number of people leaving the enclave for medical treatment.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was partially reopened by Israel at the beginning of February after nearly two years of closure.

Since then, Israel has temporarily closed the crossing on several occasions.

Maher Shamia, the acting undersecretary of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said authorities were only allowing Palestinians to use it to leave the territory three days a week, while allocating just one day a week for medical evacuations at the Karem Abu Salem crossing, which connects Gaza to Israel.

“The occupation bears full responsibility for this crisis due to its continued closure of the Rafah border crossing, the main gateway for patients to leave,” Shamia said.

Shamia called on human rights organisations to exert pressure on Israel and force the authorities to allow Palestinians to freely exit and re-enter Gaza.

He added that the majority of patients could be treated locally if and when the territory’s healthcare infrastructure is rebuilt, which Israel has also been accused of hindering.

“We emphasise that a large portion of patients can be treated inside the Gaza Strip [if] the health sector, which has been systematically destroyed, is rehabilitated and prepared.”

Gaza is in the middle of a humanitarian crisis, which has been compounded by the lack of aid entering the territory. Almost 90 percent of the population remains displaced, with most experiencing high levels of food insecurity.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Israel to immediately reopen all crossings into Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter without restriction.

“I’m also deeply concerned by Israel’s decision to close crossings into Gaza and reiterate my call for the immediate reopening of ⁠all crossings to ensure the rapid, safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza,” Guterres said.