Medical Evacuation Facilitates Departure of Palestinians from Gaza

An evacuation operation, described by Israel as among the largest of its kind in recent months, has facilitated the departure of over 200 seriously injured and ill Palestinians along with their caregivers from Gaza. This initiative, supervised by Cogat, the Israeli military entity managing humanitarian matters in Gaza, and the World Health Organization, enabled 231 individuals from Gaza to pass through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing. Among those evacuated were patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, blood diseases, cancer, kidney conditions, and trauma injuries. The WHO reported that as many as 14,000 individuals remain in Gaza awaiting medical evacuation. Crossings connecting with Gaza were sealed by Israel and Egypt subsequent to Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October last year. Approximately 4,900 Palestinian patients requiring overseas medical care were permitted to depart between November, when Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing for such evacuations, and May, when Egypt subsequently closed the crossing after Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side. The UN indicated that prior to Wednesday’s evacuation, merely 229 patients had departed since May. On Wednesday, the WHO and Cogat additionally declared the completion of the polio vaccination campaign throughout Gaza. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the WHO, stated that 556,770 children under the age of 10, representing 94% of that demographic, had received two doses of the vaccine since September. This program was initiated following the detection of a polio case in August, marking the first instance recorded in Gaza in 25 years. The virus carries the risk of paralyzing or even being fatal to children. It has been the focus of a global vaccination effort for decades and has largely been eradicated. On Saturday, the WHO and other UN agencies commenced vaccine administration in Gaza City, having been compelled to defer the rollout in the northern part of the territory last month due to Israeli bombardment, widespread displacement, and restricted access. The three-day operation experienced a brief interruption due to an attack on a hospital. While the WHO did not identify the party responsible for the strike, local medical personnel attributed it to an Israeli quadcopter. The Israeli military stated it was conducting an investigation but did not believe it was accountable. Dr Tedros reported that 105,500 children in northern Gaza received a second dose, achieving approximately 88% coverage. He noted that for herd immunity to be effective, a minimum of two doses must be administered to at least 90% of all children in every community and neighborhood. He issued a warning that “7,000-10,000 children couldn’t be reached for their second doses and are thus vulnerable to polio”. Certain areas of northern Gaza were excluded from the vaccination efforts because of ongoing intense Israeli military operations in towns such as Jabalia and Beit Lahia. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) declared on Wednesday morning that its troops had commenced operations in Beit Lahia, citing intelligence that it claimed was “indicating the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure”. The IDF urged all remaining civilians to evacuate the area using what it referred to as “organised routes for their safety”. Beit Lahia has experienced significant bombardment since the IDF initiated a ground offensive in the adjacent area of Jabalia a month prior, stating its actions were directed against regrouping Hamas fighters. The IDF reported that its troops had killed 50 “terrorists” in Jabalia during the preceding day. The BBC and other international media outlets are unable to access the Gaza Strip, thus preventing independent verification of these assertions. Individuals transported out of Gaza as part of the medical evacuation operation are destined for treatment in either the United Arab Emirates or Romania. Among those being relocated was Mohammed, son of Khuloud Tabasi. As she embraced her husband while entering the ambulance in the southern city of Khan Younis, Khuloud stated that following four operations, her son’s “situation went from bad to worse… Thank God [the WHO] organised the evacuation of my son.” Israel has been experiencing increasing international pressure to address and improve the humanitarian conditions within the Gaza Strip. Last weekend, fifteen senior UN officials characterized conditions in the north as “apocalyptic,” asserting that the entire population was “at risk of death from starvation, disease and violence”. Israel has also received calls for action from its ally, the US. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned the Israeli government on 13 October, giving it 30 days to “surge” humanitarian aid into Gaza or face the potential reduction of some US military assistance. The quantity of individuals still requiring medical support remains substantial, with 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals currently inoperable and the remaining 17 functioning only partially. Dr Marwan Abu Saada serves as the general manager of the al-Shifa medical complex in Gaza City, which was left in ruins following a second raid by Israeli forces in March. The IDF asserted that it had been utilized by Hamas for military objectives, an accusation the group has consistently denied. Portions of al-Shifa have since been reconstructed and reopened, including its emergency department, and the hospital recently admitted patients who were evacuated from facilities in Beit Lahia. Dr Abu Saada noted the presence of children suffering from leukaemia, individuals with breast and other cancers, and those who have been disabled by the conflict. “They desperately need to travel abroad as soon as possible,” he stated, adding, “Since none of the treatment facilities are available in Gaza.” Although Wednesday’s evacuation has garnered widespread approval, the number of individuals transported to the UAE and Romania represents only a small proportion of the total population requiring medical assistance. Furthermore, as long as the conflict persists, the count of those in need of aid is expected to increase.