Gaza Ministry: Evacuating 21,000 Patients Would Take Four Years at Current Rate

Gaza's Health Ministry said evacuating some 21,000 patients for treatment abroad would take about four years while the Rafah crossing stays closed to medical travel.

• The Gaza Health Ministry said evacuating about 21,000 patients and wounded requiring care outside the strip would take nearly four years at the current travel rate.
• The ministry blamed Israel for patients' lives and appealed to the international community to press for reopening crossings.
• Israeli Physicians for Human Rights said no hospital in Gaza operates at full capacity one year after the ceasefire took effect.
• WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said Israeli approval for importing medical equipment into Gaza takes about 74 days.