European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahib announced the medical evacuation of 38 patients and 99 of their relatives from the Gaza Strip. The operation was carried out with the assistance of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The patients were taken to Belgium, Italy and Turkey. Transport was provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Labib expressed her gratitude to the participating countries for their contribution to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This evacuation highlights the serious challenges facing the enclave’s health system and demonstrates international efforts to provide assistance in the context of the ongoing conflict. According to the WHO, more than 14,800 patients are in need of urgent medical care that is not available in Gaza.
The situation is exacerbated by ongoing large-scale military operations since October 2023, a lack of resources and the depletion of medical staff. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In response to the ICC’s actions, the US has imposed sanctions against the court.
Israel keeps up attacks on Gaza
Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out air strikes on western and central areas of the Gaza Strip, killing eight Palestinians.
According to hospital sources and eyewitness accounts, the Israeli military continues to deliberately target civilians.
Two Palestinians waiting for aid were killed in the area of the so-called humanitarian distribution centre near the Netzarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip.
In the Rimal area in the west of the Gaza Strip, two more Palestinians were killed and 13 others were injured in an air strike. In addition, three Palestinians were killed in a strike on an area near the Kissufim border crossing, and another person was killed in an attack east of Deir al-Balah.
