The Ministry of Health in Gaza has raised an urgent alarm regarding the dire situation faced by more than 20,000 patients and injured individuals who are unable to travel for necessary medical treatments due to the slow and inadequate operations at the Rafah border crossing. The ministry has called for the crossing to be opened permanently and consistently to ensure the unrestricted movement of patients, emphasizing that the current partial operations are insufficient and fail to meet the humanitarian obligations towards those in critical need.

In a recent statement, the Ministry expressed frustration over the continuous closure of the Rafah crossing, which has been operating under restricted conditions, further exacerbating the healthcare crisis in the region. Although there was an announcement of partial operation allowed earlier this month, the numbers of those permitted to travel remain significantly low, inadequate to address the growing medical emergency faced by patients in Gaza, particularly those suffering from severe illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

The ministry highlighted urgent medical needs that require advanced surgical interventions, which are unavailable in Gaza because of the ongoing Israeli blockade and repeated attacks on the healthcare system. With many patients facing life-threatening conditions, this situation not only poses immediate health risks but also amplifies the humanitarian crisis in the region, demanding immediate international response and action to facilitate the treatment of these vulnerable individuals.