Israeli occupation authorities continue to obstruct the departure of Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip, as the fourth batch of wounded and ill individuals scheduled to leave the enclave via the Rafah border crossing for medical treatment was unable to travel today. No official explanation has been provided regarding the reasons for the delay, nor has a new departure date been set.
Deliberate Obstruction Despite Prior Agreements
This latest obstruction follows the Egyptian authorities’ reopening of the Rafah crossing under an agreement reached weeks ago, allowing a limited number of patients and wounded individuals to leave Gaza gradually for treatment in Egyptian hospitals or other countries. While the first three groups were eventually able to cross after prolonged waiting periods and complex procedures, the fourth batch has not received the necessary approvals from the Israeli occupation, a requirement imposed by Egyptian authorities. As a result, these patients remain trapped in Gaza, despite their worsening health conditions.
A Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse
The delay comes amidst the ongoing collapse of Gaza’s healthcare sector. Hospitals suffer from severe shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, with many facilities either destroyed or rendered inoperative due to relentless Israeli bombardment. In the absence of adequate medical resources to treat severe injuries, travelling abroad remains the only hope for hundreds of patients suffering from chronic illnesses and life-threatening injuries that require urgent surgical intervention.
According to Palestinian medical sources, hundreds of patients are awaiting clearance to leave for treatment, including children and cancer patients who lack access to chemotherapy, as well as individuals with critical injuries sustained in the latest wave of attacks. Doctors warn that many of these patients face grave health complications and could lose their lives if they are not evacuated urgently.
Arbitrary Restrictions Violating the Right to Life and Healthcare
Preventing Palestinian patients from travelling for treatment constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights. International law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, guarantees the right of the sick and wounded to access medical care without obstruction. Moreover, keeping patients confined in an environment where the healthcare system is in a state of humanitarian collapse amounts to collective punishment—an act explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
While the Israeli occupation controls the mechanism determining who can exit Gaza, Egypt’s acceptance of this arrangement—effectively enabling a system that bars critically ill patients from reaching hospitals—also raises serious legal and ethical concerns. This policy directly endangers the lives of hundreds of patients who require immediate medical attention.
The urgent need for international intervention cannot be overstated. Pressure must be applied on the Israeli occupation to cease these arbitrary restrictions and immediately approve the departure of patients. If the current obstruction continues, Gaza faces yet another humanitarian catastrophe, compounding the suffering of its besieged population.
