Israel cancels Rafah evacuation for Gaza patients amid renewed massacres

Raed al-Nems, the spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), reported on Wednesday that the World Health Organization officially notified the society of the cancellation, but no reasons were provided for the decision.

Nems stated that Red Crescent teams were fully prepared to evacuate patients from al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, but the last-minute cancellation of coordination halted the operation.

He emphasized that many critically ill patients are ready to leave Gaza for urgent medical care overseas, pointing out that the health system in the strip is on the verge of total collapse.

The Red Crescent announced that it is looking forward to reestablishing coordination, hoping that the evacuation can take place on Thursday, amidst the dire humanitarian and medical conditions that patients in Gaza are currently experiencing.

Official figures from Gaza reveal that approximately 22,000 people in need of medical care are trying to leave the region for treatment abroad, as the healthcare infrastructure has deteriorated significantly due to the ongoing genocide.

Early on Wednesday, 40 Palestinians, including women and children, crossed back into Gaza through the Rafah border, while another similar number left. This marks the third consecutive day that the crossing has partially reopened under stringent Israeli regulations.

On Monday, only 12 Palestinians were allowed to return to Gaza, while 20 were permitted to leave, far below the established daily target of 50 returnees and 50 patients.

Palestinians crossing back through Rafah recounted experiences of significant harassment from Israeli forces, which included thorough searches, interrogations, and tight restrictions on their movements.

Recent Palestinian statistics suggest that approximately 80,000 individuals have expressed their desire to return to Gaza. This underscores the determination of the Palestinian people to resist displacement and uphold their right to return, even in the face of significant devastation throughout the area.

Israel has maintained that the only individuals permitted to return to the strip are those Palestinians from Gaza who departed following the onset of the war.

Meanwhile, the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza disclosed on Wednesday that since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli forces have carried out 1,520 violations of the agreement up to the present day.

As a result of these violations, there were 559 Palestinian fatalities and 1,500 injuries stemming from consistent offenses against the terms of the ceasefire and international humanitarian regulations.

The report indicates that within a span of 115 days, there were a total of 522 incidents of gunfire, 73 instances of military vehicles entering civilian regions, 704 airstrikes and targeted assaults, along with 221 instances of homes and different structures being demolished.

According to the media office, nearly all fatalities, accounting for 99%, were civilians, which includes 288 children, women, and older adults, alongside 268 men.

Out of the 1,500 individuals injured, more than 900 were children, women, and seniors. A significant number of these injuries occurred within residential areas, situated at a considerable distance from combat zones, resulting in an injury rate of 99.2% among civilians.

In one of the deadliest single days since the October truce, Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 23 Palestinians on Wednesday, medical sources reported. Among the casualties were several children, including an 11-year-old girl.

The attacks targeted areas from Gaza City to southern Khan Younis, including tents sheltering displaced families. One victim was identified as a first responder for the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

The war has martyred nearly 72,000 Palestinians and left more than 171,000 injured, while causing severe damage to roughly 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.