According to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), tens of thousands of Palestinians require urgent medical evacuation from Gaza, but bureaucratic delays and stringent travel restrictions at critical border crossings prevent most patients from leaving. Out of an estimated 18,500 people needing specialized care, only 549 have been successfully evacuated so far, leaving pediatric trauma victims and long-term patients facing severe risks amid a collapsed local healthcare infrastructure.
Medical Evacuation Bottlenecks and Border Restrictions
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 18,500 individuals, including 4,000 children, currently require acute medical evacuation from Gaza. However, according to Leger Uten Grenser secretary-general Lindis Hurum, the process takes months, and the majority of requests are rejected by Israel without explanation. Stricter travel limitations at the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings continue to block patients from accessing overseas treatment.
Demonstrants gathered this week among the ruins of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza to issue desperate appeals to international organizations and mediating nations. According to participating patients, individuals initially scheduled by the WHO for medical evacuation later received notices that Israeli authorities had canceled their departures for security reasons. Hurum notes that an average of two patients die daily while waiting in line to leave Gaza for medical care.
Did you know? According to Leger Uten Grenser, 37 aid organizations have been denied permission by Israel since the beginning of the year to operate/job in Gaza, crippling local efforts to supply medical equipment and specialized expertise.
Case Studies: Pediatric Patients Caught in the Conflict
Nine-year-old Eman and fifteen-year-old Abdelhadi illustrate the severe medical challenges facing youth in the region. On March 23, 2025, during Ramadan, an airstrike struck near their home while Eman was waking her siblings. According to her mother, Rana, the blast severely injured Eman’s arm, which was nearly severed, and required extensive patchwork from local doctors before she could be evacuated.
Abdelhadi sustained critical injuries near a playground when a bomb struck children and a vehicle. Both teenagers eventually received advanced surgeries at a Leger Uten Grenser hospital in Jordan before returning to Gaza. Despite this intervention, Eman requires additional surgeries for her visible arm scars, while Abdelhadi experiences severe walking difficulties, compromised immunity, and facial injuries that require further operations to restore normal mouth function.
Systemic Collapse of Gaza’s Healthcare Infrastructure
Israeli military operations have systematically targeted Gaza’s healthcare system throughout the ongoing war, according to humanitarian reports. Forces have bombed hospitals, killed 1,700 healthcare workers, and blocked vital medical supplies. Despite a ceasefire that took effect on 10. oktober 2025, health authorities in Gaza report that 1,258 people have been killed and 4,145 injured amid regular ongoing air and ground attacks.
Lindis Hurum emphasizes that approximately two million people in Gaza currently live with various health needs, ranging from life-threatening trauma and cancer to pregnancy complications and severe psychological distress. With local medical facilities in ruins and international experts blocked from entry, patients returning from abroad face a severe lack of ongoing rehabilitation, risking permanent disabilities and chronic health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people currently need medical evacuation from Gaza?
According to World Health Organization estimates, approximately 18,500 people, including 4,000 children, urgently require medical evacuation from Gaza.
Why are patients unable to leave Gaza for treatment?
According to Leger Uten Grenser, the process takes months, most requests are rejected by Israel without explanation, and travel restrictions at the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings block departures.
What is the status of the healthcare system in Gaza?
The healthcare system operates in ruins following years of conflict, hospital bombardments, the deaths of 1,700 healthcare workers, and severe blocks on medical supplies and aid organizations.
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