Rafah: 46 Patients-accompanied by 65 relatives-were evacuated on Tuesday from the Gaza Strip via the Rafah land crossing in the south. This evacuation took place amidst the continued deterioration of health conditions and the diminishing capacity of hospitals to handle medical cases and critical conditions.
According to Yemen News Agency, in a press statement reported by the Palestinian agency "Sanad," the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that its teams handled the preparation of patients for medical evacuation and provided necessary medical and humanitarian services prior to their transfer. The PRCS explained that its teams provided medical care to patients at the Al-Mawasi field hospital, ensuring they were fit for transport and that their health needs were met during the evacuation procedures.
The Society reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to providing health and humanitarian services to patients and supporting medical evacuation operations for cases requiring treatment outside the Gaza Strip. These evacuations are part of a limited, partial mechanism approved in early February 2026, under the arrangements for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect in October 2025.
Lists of patients and their companions are subject to strict security screening and vetting by the Israeli side before permission is granted to cross at Rafah. Amid the worsening health crisis, the Gaza Ministry of Health estimates that approximately 22,000 patients and wounded individuals are in urgent need of medical evacuation and treatment outside the Strip.
Hospitals operating in Gaza are facing a severe decline in their capacity to provide medical care, as most critical departments have gone out of service. This is compounded by acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel, making it increasingly difficult to manage cases requiring specialized treatment unavailable within the Strip.
