The Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing closure of the Rafah land crossing by Israeli authorities. For the second week in a row, the border point remains shut to the movement of patients and wounded individuals seeking medical treatment outside the territory. The ministry emphasized that this continued blockade is exacerbating a humanitarian crisis within the besieged enclave.
Accumulation of Critical Cases
In a press statement released on Thursday, the health authority detailed the severe impact of the prolonged shutdown. Officials stated that the inability to evacuate cases allows critical conditions to deteriorate rapidly. The waiting lists for medical travel are expanding daily, surpassing the capacity of local hospitals which are already described as dilapidated and unable to provide even basic care due to the siege.
The ministry characterized the closure as a deliberate deprivation of the right to life and healthcare for patients and the injured. They argued that this practice constitutes a continuation of serious violations of international humanitarian law. The accumulation of cases is occurring at an accelerating rate, creating a dangerous backlog that threatens the lives of those awaiting transfer.
Call for International Pressure
Gaza’s health officials have called upon relevant international and UN bodies to exert immediate and serious pressure on the occupation forces. The demand focuses on opening the Rafah crossing and all other land borders to facilitate the exit of critical medical cases. The ministry stressed the urgency of these actions to save lives before it is too late, highlighting that the current situation leaves no alternative but external intervention to prevent further loss of life among the vulnerable population.
