Israel Authorizes Thousands of Gaza Medical Evacuations Through Kerem Shalom After Rafah Closure

Israel has authorized the evacuation of thousands of Gaza residents for medical reasons since the war began in October 2023, but the Times of Israël reports that since June 2024 Israel has had the power to decide who can leave Gaza via Kerem Shalom after Rafah’s closure the month before.

“Gaza’s Health Ministry has accused Israel of preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians in need of medical treatment abroad from leaving the besieged, wartorn enclave despite a nominal “ceasefire” being in place since October last year”

Al Jazeera

The Times of Israël says that during the nine first months, nearly 1 500 Gazaouis were authorized to leave, averaging 150 per month, and that the number rose to nearly 2 500 between the mid-March and July period, averaging 500 to 600 people per month, with the figures attributed to COGAT.

Al Jazeera

The article contrasts those figures with the World Health Organization estimate that the real number of patients authorized to leave Gaza during the same period was 399, or less than 3% of the 14 800 patients who should leave in urgent need of care.

Shai Grunberg of Gisha told the Times of Israël that the increase is not enough, saying, « L’augmentation du nombre des évacuations autorisées par Israël – à considérer qu’elle soit vraie – reste une goutte d’eau dans l’océan ».

Physicians for Human Rights’ Asil Abu Rass said to the Times of Israël that he has not seen easing, adding, « il n’y a pas d’assouplissement ».

In Gaza, BBC reporting describes amputees deprived of care, rehabilitation, and travel, quoting Shireen Abu al-Kas, 17, saying, « My life now resembles that of a prisoner in a detention camp. »

The BBC says Shireen lost both legs in an Israeli bombardment that hit her home and cost her entire family, and she told the interview that she needs someone to take her to the toilet and accompany her everywhere.

Al-Jazeera Net

The BBC also reports that Zaher Al-Wahidi, director of the information unit at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, said 15% of injuries sustained during the Gaza war were very serious and had led to many amputations, including 18% among children.

In the same BBC piece, the general director of Hamad Hospital in the northwest of Gaza, Ahmed Naim, is cited saying the war has increased the number of amputations, while the BBC reports the toll of the Israeli war as more than 60,000 dead and 150,000 injured.

Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025 states that the Gaza Health Ministry said more than 44,000 people had been killed and 104,000 wounded since hostilities intensified on October 7, 2023, and it adds that almost all Palestinians in Gaza have been forcibly displaced.

Al Jazeera reports that Gaza’s Health Ministry has accused Israel of preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians in need of medical treatment abroad from leaving the enclave despite a nominal ceasefire in place since October 2023.

The outlet says Maher Shamia, acting undersecretary of Gaza’s Health Ministry, stated that the Rafah crossing is open only for patient evacuations three days a week, while allocating just one day a week for medical evacuations at the Karem Abu Salem crossing.

Shamia told Al Jazeera that « The occupation bears full responsibility for this crisis due to its continued closure of the Rafah border crossing, the main gateway for patients to leave, » and he urged human rights organizations to press Israel to allow Palestinians to freely exit and re-enter Gaza.

Al Jazeera also quotes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for immediate reopening of all crossings, saying, « I’m also deeply concerned by Israel’s decision to close crossings into Gaza and reiterate my call for the immediate reopening of all crossings ».

The Times of Israël frames the stakes in terms of scale and approvals, reporting that each departure requires Israeli security authorization involving identity checks and risk assessment, while it quotes Dorit Nitzan saying that « Chaque semaine, on évacue des dizaines sinon des centaines de personnes » depending on receiving countries’ capacity.