Doctor says only five out of 450 ‘critical’ patients will leave Gaza today
There are 450 patients in critical condition and in need of immediate treatment outside the Gaza Strip, says Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza City.
“We were informed that today only five patients will be allowed to exit with two companions through the Rafah crossing,” Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera. “We want clear mechanisms for the exit of patients and the injured from Gaza for treatment.”
Health authorities say at least 1,268 people have died in Gaza while waiting for medical transfer after Rafah was closed by Israel in 2024. They warn that number will rise soon unless more Palestinians are allowed to exit immediately.
12,000 medical staff in Egypt prepared to treat Gaza’s wounded
Hundreds of Ambulances have queued up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border preparing to receive medical evacuees from Gaza.
Citing Egypt’s Health Ministry, AlQahera News reported 150 hospitals and 300 ambulances have been prepared to receive Palestinian patients. It said 12,000 doctors and 30 rapid deployment teams have been allocated to work with the sick and wounded.
“The Rafah crossing is a lifeline,” said Mohammed Nassir, a Palestinian who had his leg amputated after being wounding during an Israeli attack early in the war.
“I need to undergo surgery that is unavailable in Gaza but can be performed abroad.”
That's about 2,400 medical staff per patient allowed to leave today...
Israel preventing patient exits to Egypt ‘a death warrant’
Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, says there are 20,000 patients in the Palestinian territory, including 4,500 children, in urgent need of medical evacuation.
While Israel agreed to allow 50 patients out of Gaza for healthcare daily, today authorities only let five people through to Egypt, he said.
“We’re still losing lives every day. Allowing only 50 patients out of Gaza each day is not proper. This dynamic is very dire and we’re going to lose more lives,” Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera.
The reason the mass evacuations are needed is because Israel’s military “entirely destroyed” Gaza’s health system, said Abu Salmiya.
“Hospitals are working at the minimum of medical supplies and personnel. Israel continues to deny the entry of supplies, ambulances, and volunteer doctors. We are unable to treat patients here and preventing their exit is a death warrant issued against them. It’s premeditated murder designed by the Israeli occupation forces.”
At 50 a day, that's less than 20,000 a year.
