For thousands of wounded and critically ill Palestinians, the wait for medical evacuation has become a matter of life and death. The Israeli war on Gaza has left over 111,000 people injured, with at least 25,000 in urgent need of treatment abroad. Yet, Israel continues to obstruct their transfer, drastically reducing the number of those allowed to leave. As a result, patients face worsening health conditions, with many at risk of preventable deaths.

Among them is Abu Omar Al-Khaldi, who was left partially paralysed by an Israeli airstrike. Despite receiving medical referrals and approval from the World Health Organization, Israeli restrictions have kept him trapped in Gaza, fearing that delays will lead to irreversible complications. Similarly, 17-year-old Rimah Fahd Ayash, suffering from a severe neurological condition, has been waiting months for treatment while her health deteriorates. Her mother, desperate for help, warns that every delay brings her daughter closer to death.

Medical professionals in Gaza warn that at the current evacuation rate of 40–50 patients per day, it would take over two years to transfer those in urgent need. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, stresses that Israel must adhere to the agreed-upon evacuation numbers, which should allow up to 1,000 patients to leave daily. He also calls for an end to the Israeli practice of denying permits to patient companions, a cruel policy that further restricts access to medical care.

The ongoing blockade has crippled Gaza’s healthcare system, with 27 hospitals rendered non-operational and 82 out of 90 health centres destroyed. The humanitarian protocol explicitly requires Israel to facilitate the entry of medical supplies and ensure that patients can receive the treatment they urgently need. As international organisations and medical experts demand action, the world watches as Gaza’s sick and wounded continue to suffer under Israel’s inhumane restrictions.