CAIRO: Twenty-one cancer patients crossed from the war-ravaged Gaza Strip into Egypt on Thursday through the Kerem Shalom border crossing amidst restricted border access and relentless Israeli bombardments, a medical source in Egypt’s El-Arish city told AFP.
A medical source in Egypt’s El-Arish city, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the evacuation, stating that the patients would be transported to the United Arab Emirates for essential medical treatment. “They will be transported to the United Arab Emirates for treatment,” the source told AFP.
This evacuation represents the first such instance since early May when the Rafah border crossing, traditionally used for such humanitarian operations, was closed after Israeli forces assumed control of the Palestinian side. Negotiations to reopen Rafah have repeatedly faltered, leaving alternative crossings like Kerem Shalom as limited avenues for aid and evacuation.
Humanitarian concerns have intensified as Gaza continues to face dire shortages of medical supplies, food, and other essential resources. The United Nations has highlighted the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid, citing a shortfall in essential goods reaching Gaza. Currently, fewer than 90 trucks per day are entering Gaza through Kerem Shalom, far below the minimum of 500 trucks recommended by the UN to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Gaza’s health infrastructure, already strained by years of blockade and recent conflict, is struggling to cope. The few remaining hospitals are overwhelmed, exacerbating the challenges faced by patients, including those requiring critical medical interventions like cancer treatment.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 37,765 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of the conflict more than eight months ago.
