Gaza's Deepening Healthcare Crisis: Crumbling Infrastructure and Evacuation Hurdles

Palestinian patients in Gaza are grappling with a severe healthcare crisis, characterized by deteriorating hospital infrastructure, critical shortages of essential medical supplies, and a dramatic increase in disease prevalence. Efforts to medically evacuate thousands of patients requiring specialized treatment are ongoing but face significant hurdles, including border crossing restrictions and specific governmental policies regarding patient movement.

Hospitals in Critical Condition Amid Shortages

Hospitals in Gaza are reported to be in a critical state, making them unsuitable for complex surgical procedures and advanced medical care, following two years of conflict.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has characterized the humanitarian needs in Gaza as "staggering," with existing aid covering "the most basic survival requirements."

Medical facilities, some of which sustained damage from military operations, are experiencing severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and electric generators vital for operations. Dr. Khalil al-Daqran, an attending physician at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, noted a threefold increase in child admissions to Gaza's hospitals since a recent ceasefire, exceeding capacity. He attributed the widespread infections and diseases to poor hygiene conditions resulting from infrastructure damage.

Approximately 11,000 Palestinian cancer patients are reported to remain in the territory. Health officials indicate that cancer-related deaths have tripled since the conflict began, a situation attributed to restrictions on patients leaving Gaza and limitations on chemotherapy drug entry.

Urgent Patient Cases Underscore Dire Needs

Individual patient cases vividly illustrate the challenges faced by those seeking medical care:

• Three-year-old Zain Tafesh died from leukemia.
• Eight-year-old Saadi Abu Taha died from stomach cancer.
• Ten-year-old Amar Abu Said is paralyzed from the neck down after a bullet lodged between his vertebrae and requires complex, specialized surgery.
• Ten-year-old Ahmed al-Jadd has a brain tumor, with symptoms including a drooping mouth, head pain, and loss of movement in his right hand. His family is seeking treatment abroad.
• One-year-old Siwar Ashour was re-hospitalized in Gaza after returning from six months of treatment in Amman, Jordan, for severe nutritional problems. She developed a gastro-intestinal infection complicated by an immune system deficiency, necessitating specialized baby formula, which has been either unavailable or in limited supply. Her family is seeking her re-evacuation.

An Israeli court in Jerusalem rejected an appeal to allow a five-year-old Palestinian boy with an aggressive form of cancer, who has been receiving care in Ramallah since 2022, to enter Israel for a bone marrow transplant and antibody immunotherapy. This specialized procedure is unavailable in either Gaza or the occupied West Bank. The ruling cited a government policy that bars residents registered in Gaza from crossing the border, a policy implemented following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Prior to this, cancer patients from Gaza routinely received treatment in Jerusalem. Judge Ram Winograd stated there was "no meaningful distinction" between the boy’s case and others barred by the policy.

Gisha, an Israeli human rights organization, commented that the case illustrates a policy denying life-saving medical care based solely on a patient's registered address in Gaza, even when they are not residing there.

Evacuation Efforts Face Policy and Border Restrictions

The WHO estimates that approximately 15,000 patients require urgent medical evacuations from Gaza. On October 10, the WHO coordinated the first medical convoy since the recent ceasefire, transporting 41 patients and 145 carers via Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing to hospitals in Jordan. The UN agency has advocated for a rapid increase in medical evacuations and requested the use of Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Israel has stated that the Rafah crossing will remain closed until Hamas fulfills commitments under the Gaza ceasefire deal, specifically the return of deceased hostages. Israel has maintained control of the Gaza side of the Egyptian border since May 2024.

Jordan operates a medical evacuation program for patients from Gaza. Dr. Mohammed al-Momani, Jordan's Minister of Communications, confirmed that Siwar Ashour was among 45 children who were returned to Gaza after completing their medical treatment. Jordan's policy is to repatriate patients upon conclusion of their medical attention to allow more patients to receive care and to avoid contributing to the displacement of Palestinians from their land. Since March, approximately 300 sick and wounded children, along with 730 parents and guardians, have been transported to Jordan for treatment, out of 2000 scheduled. Other regional nations, such as the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, have also treated thousands of civilians from Gaza.

In March, Israel implemented a total blockade on aid into Gaza, which was partially lifted after 11 weeks. Despite a surge in aid deliveries since the ceasefire, the UN and various aid agencies report that humanitarian supplies remain insufficient.

International Appeals and Growing Death Toll

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO, suggested that allowing Gazan patients access to treatment in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem—a practice pre-dating the conflict—would be the most effective measure. Top officials from the European Union and foreign ministers from over 20 countries, including the UK, have previously called for this, offering financial aid, medical staff, or equipment.

The World Health Organization states that 900 individuals, including children and cancer patients, have died while awaiting evacuation from Gaza.