Thousands of patients in Gaza are left stranded without access to life-saving treatment as the health system collapses under the strain of the ongoing genocidal war. Hospitals are struggling to operate, with only a handful functioning at full capacity, while vital services such as intensive care, pediatric treatment, chemotherapy, and advanced surgeries have all but disappeared. Families report that urgent cases, including children and the elderly, are being forced to wait in dangerous conditions as the mechanisms for medical evacuation remain blocked.

Health authorities warn that the closure of key crossings has effectively trapped more than 16,000 patients inside the Strip. Many of these individuals require specialised care that is unavailable locally, including complex surgeries and cancer treatments. Doctors say the situation is particularly dire for patients with chronic illnesses or life-threatening conditions, with reports of deaths occurring while patients awaited evacuation. Limited hospital capacity, dwindling medical supplies, and damaged infrastructure have turned routine care into a matter of survival.

The number of medical evacuations has plummeted since the closure of the Rafah crossing, leaving hundreds of vulnerable patients with no option to reach treatment abroad. Only a handful are allowed to leave each day, far below the scale required to meet the urgent needs of the population. Health professionals and human rights advocates are calling for immediate intervention to resume transfers and ensure that Gaza’s patients have access to the care essential to their survival.