“Trapped in Gaza: The Urgent Fight for Life-Saving Medical Escape Amidst Conflict”

Khan Younis and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine –  Within a small apartment in Khan Younis, amidst a landscape devastated by war for as far as one can see, Abeer al-Awady counts the moments until the eagerly awaited ceasefire.

Her daughter Hanaa’s existence relies on it.

The 15-year-old emits a sharp scream whenever Abeer raises the blanket that covers her face. Even the slightest hint of light provokes agonizing discomfort in the young girl’s sensitive, inflamed eyes, compelling Abeer to comply with her daughter’s desperate requests to be covered again.

Under the blanket rests a face ravaged by the unyielding impact of cancer. A prominent mass extends from her left eye, her head appears diminished, and her frail arms hardly move. The frailty of her voice and her continuous wails signify the suffering she has faced since her diagnosis three months back.

Abeer hopes that the Rafah crossing, which links Gaza with Egypt and has been tightly closed by Israel since its military operations in the southernmost areas of the territory in May, will open as soon as the ceasefire is enacted early Sunday. “I have no idea how much longer Hanaa can endure,” she stated.

For thousands of injured Palestinians in Gaza and patients like Hanaa, the ceasefire ratified by the Israeli cabinet on Saturday following substantial political stress, is more than a mere diplomatic achievement; it’s a question of survival. The Rafah crossing is anticipated to be opened as part of the agreement, permitting Palestinians in Gaza to seek medical attention.

The region’s healthcare system has been severely impacted by the conflict, stripping it of personnel, resources, and infrastructure, with medical professionals who have faced Israeli assaults left with almost nothing to provide their patients.

“There is nothing that Gaza’s healthcare sector could offer for these critical situations: no medications, no specialists, no surgeries or procedures, no adequate equipment,” Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, head of al-Shifa Medical Complex and the Department of Treatment Abroad, informed Al Jazeera, emphasizing that for many individuals, the only chance of survival is to seek treatment abroad.

The ceasefire is anticipated to facilitate the exit of Gaza Palestinians requiring medical care through the Rafah border crossing. “The specifics regarding where patients will be sent for treatment remain unclear. The 5,300 Gazans who sought treatment since October 2023 traveled to Arab and European countries, along with the US. The destinations for these new cases are still unknown,” noted Abu Salmiya.

Death sentence

For Abeer, who is also a mother to two sons, the Rafah crossing serves as their family’s only beacon of hope to retain Hanaa. “Hanaa’s diagnosis felt like a death sentence for us,” Abeer expressed, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Yet to witness her condition decline each day, with no aid from us or anyone in Gaza, is an entirely different kind of anguish.”

The family’s struggle began when Hanaa’s eyes became swollen, prompting a visit to an eye specialist who quickly referred her to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. There, tests revealed the heartbreaking truth: Hanaa had cancer with multiple tumors in her head.

Abeer recalled how her formerly vibrant daughter, despite being born with cerebral atrophy and a speech impediment, had flourished with keen hearing, clear sight, and a passion for life. However, following her diagnosis, Hanaa has entirely lost her vision, and her hearing is swiftly deteriorating. A substantial tumor in her throat has rendered her unable to consume food, now relying on a feeding tube connected to her stomach.

For three months, Hanaa has not received any cancer treatment due to the shortage of medical supplies in Gaza. “All she receives are pain relievers to assist her in sleeping,” Abeer noted. “If it weren’t for this war and the blockade, Hanaa would have initiated treatment and potentially recovered. Instead, her state has worsened, stripping her of her senses and leaving her immobile.”

Patients dying every day

As per Abu Salmiya, there are around 20,000 patients and injured Palestinians in Gaza requiring medical care, of which 12,000 are in critically unstable conditions. “Nearly 6,000 individuals harmed by the conflict require immediate treatment in medical facilities abroad. This includes about 4,000 amputees, and over 2,000 cases suffering severe injuries to their spines, leading to impairments and paralysis,” he elaborated.

In a statement presented at the United Nations Security Council on January 3, Dr Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) representative for the West Bank and Gaza, indicated that more than a quarter of the 105,000 civilians injured during the 15-month Israeli bombardment of Gaza endure “life-altering injuries.” Characterizing hospitals as “battle zones,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk referenced WHO statistics of 654 assaults on healthcare facilities, resulting in 886 deaths and 1,349 injuries.

The organization noted that over 1,000 healthcare personnel have lost their lives since October 2023, exacerbating the strain on an already overstretched healthcare system, where only 16 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially operational, and merely 1,800 beds are accessible.

“We’re losing patients with conditions that we could’ve easily managed if not for the conflict. Nearly 25 percent of our dialysis patients have died. Infants with heart ailments are succumbing daily in incubators due to our inability to perform surgeries. As many as 20 patients with treatable illnesses perish every day in front of powerless staff,” observed Abu Salmiya.

For those in critical conditions, leaving the territory has been “a long and fruitless procedure,” particularly following the closing of the Rafah crossing, according to the official. “Israel’s constraints at the Karem Abu Salem [Kerem Shalom] border crossing [between Gaza and Israel] meant many were denied exit despite receiving approval. For instance, infants might be given permission to leave, but without their mothers,” he clarified. Only 490 medical conditions have been authorized to exit the territories since May. “Of 12,000 critical cases, 490 is a negligible number,” commented Abu Salmiya.

He further emphasized that a ceasefire must be accompanied by a surge of resources and an alleviation of travel for patients. “We desperately require plastic and burn surgeons, bone restoration specialists, as well as experts in neurosurgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, thoracic surgery, and maxillofacial surgery,” he added.

“surgery and cardiac surgery,” he remarked.

He also urged the WHO, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt to “facilitate the secure and prompt evacuation of medical patients to be hospitalized globally, keeping in mind that many have misplaced their travel documents amid the conflict and displacement,” implored the official.

Desperate wishes at Nasser Hospital

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, 14-year-old Raghd al-Farra rests in a hospital bed, scarcely able to speak. Her aspiration to overcome her injuries and lead a regular life relies on receiving treatment outside of Gaza.

Raghd sustained life-threatening injuries on July 22, 2024, when an Israeli air strike struck her family’s residence. “The agony never ceases,” she expressed, her voice slow and strained. Raghd has spent the larger part of the past six months in the hospital, transitioning between departments for nerve, bone, and abdominal treatment.

Her mother, Shadia al-Farra, recounted the day their abode was bombarded. Shadia and three of her daughters, including Raghd, were on the upper floor, while her husband and their youngest child remained downstairs. “The walls gave way around us,” she recalled. The strike also devastated a neighboring house, claiming the lives of its residents.

Raghd’s wounds were grave. Physicians identified two spinal fractures, complex fractures in her right leg, and considerable internal hemorrhaging. She underwent urgent surgery to remove her spleen and sections of her lungs, yet her state remains critical. “She still suffers from severe fibrosis and other abdominal issues requiring treatment not available in Gaza,” her mother noted.

In late August, medical professionals at Nasser Hospital compiled a dossier for Raghd’s overseas transfer, submitting it to Israeli authorities via WHO in mid-September. However, no authorization has been provided, and Raghd’s state continues to deteriorate. She struggles to breathe, move, or eat, and recently had her tonsils removed to mitigate further complications.

Shadia is worried that her daughter’s time is diminishing. “If Rafah does not open soon, Raghd won’t make it. Her survival relies on specialized care that Gaza cannot offer,” she stated.

The stakes are tremendous for patients and their families, who have experienced tremendous suffering throughout the 15-month conflict. “Our children are perishing before our eyes,” Shadia lamented. “We feel helpless as our medical system is overwhelmed. The ceasefire and Rafah’s reopening represent our sole hope.”

This article was published in partnership with Egab.