Director-General of Hospitals at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, said that the ministry has more than 6,000 cases, including patients and wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression, who are ready to travel outside the Gaza Strip to receive medical treatment.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Sunday, Dr. Zaqout said that there are more than 12,000 cases in dire need of treatment abroad in light of the weak capabilities of hospitals inside the Strip and the collapse of the healthcare system as a result of the continuous Israeli attacks.
He stressed that the small numbers allowed to travel daily starting Saturday will not cover all these emergency and urgent cases. He expressed hope that the numbers will increase soon.
Dr. Zaqout explained that there are many critical medical cases that require urgent medical interventions that are not available in the hospitals of the sector. He also noted that there is a technical committee that reviews these cases to follow up on their medical transfers for months.
On Saturday, 50 wounded and sick children were transferred with their companions to Egypt after sending a list of names to the parties involved, where the patients and their companions were contacted by phone to arrange the travel procedures.
Dr. Zaqout explained that the Ministry of Health requested that patients travel to other countries in addition to Egypt, but until now there was no mechanism to arrange the matter, so it was agreed that these patients would be treated in Egyptian hospitals. He requested that another number be accommodated in other countries so that they could obtain their right to medical treatment.
According to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 50 wounded and sick people will be allowed to travel daily with their companions through the Rafah crossing.