Rafah crossing closure prevents Gaza patients from accessing crucial medical treatment.

In the heart of Gaza, the intersection of health crises and political turmoil has created a desperate situation for many families, including that of Lama Abu Reida, a mother fighting for her infant daughter’s life. As access to medical care becomes increasingly restricted by geopolitical events, countless families find themselves caught in a cycle of hope and despair. This article explores the harrowing experiences of those striving for better healthcare amid the complexities of conflict and blockade.

—

Gaza City, Gaza Strip – On February 28, anticipation hung heavy over Lama Abu Reida as she prepared for a medical evacuation that she hoped would save her sick infant daughter, Alma. At fewer than five months old and reliant on an oxygen machine for every breath, Alma had finally been deemed eligible for treatment that was unattainable in the Gaza Strip. With bags packed and medical papers in hand, the family was poised to cross the Rafah border into Egypt before continuing on to Jordan for life-saving surgery. However, just one day before their journey, the Israeli government closed Gaza’s border crossings, citing heightened security concerns amidst rising tensions with Iran, shattering Abu Reida’s hopes.

Alma, suffering from a lung cyst, had already spent over three months in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where her mother has remained by her side around the clock. “She cannot do without oxygen at all,” Abu Reida lamented. “Without it, she becomes extremely exhausted.” The Rafah crossing, critical for Gaza’s medical evacuations and travel, had faced prolonged closures since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, severely limiting patient movement. Just weeks earlier, a limited reopening had offered a glimmer of hope, allowing select patients to travel abroad, yet thousands remained on waiting lists when the crossings were abruptly shut again.

Despite doctors’ warnings that urgent surgery was the only option for Alma, the complications of travel and the limitations of healthcare access in Gaza left her family in despair. “If her travel is delayed any longer… I don’t know what might happen. Her condition is not reassuring,” expressed a heartbroken Abu Reida.

The challenges faced by Abu Reida are emblematic of a broader humanitarian crisis affecting thousands in Gaza. According to the Health Ministry, over 20,000 patients are awaiting urgent medical treatment outside the territory, including 4,000 cancer patients and 4,500 children. Reports describe the Rafah crossing’s closure as a form of collective punishment that exacerbates the region’s humanitarian issues, with organizations warning that many are sentenced to death without access to necessary medical interventions.

The situation has taken a personal toll on families throughout Gaza. Hadeel Zorob lost her six-year-old son, Sohaib, on March 1, 2025, and her eight-year-old daughter, Lana, succumbed on February 18 during their wait for crucial medical referrals that never came. “I watched my children die slowly in front of my eyes, one after the other, without being able to do anything,” Zorob mourned. The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system and the blockade prevented her children from receiving timely treatment for a rare genetic disease, directly affecting their chances for recovery.

Another voice among the grieving is Amal Al-Talouli, a breast cancer patient who has seen her illness worsen due to the blockade and lack of access to treatment. “Praise be to God, we accept our fate,” she stated, yet she questioned why her suffering should increase because of closed crossings and limited medical resources. Al-Talouli, like many others, lives in precarious conditions after losing her home amidst the ongoing conflict, making her health battle even more arduous.

Urgent calls have emerged demanding the reopening of borders to restore basic healthcare access to those in desperate need. In the midst of despair, families like those of Abu Reida, Zorob, and Al-Talouli cling to hopes for change. “Is that too much to ask?” Al-Talouli pleaded, echoing the sentiments of many who are longing for a semblance of normalcy amidst unyielding adversity.

#MiddleEastNews #HealthNews