Gaza, February 01 (QNA) - Palestinian health institutions and civil society organizations have called for the effective and full operation of Rafah land crossing, urging the removal of restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation that impede movement through the crossing.

They stressed that easing these constraints is essential to allow Palestinian patients and wounded individuals to travel freely for medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip, and to accommodate large numbers in line with the vast backlog of those awaiting travel for care.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), representatives of the institutions said there are still no clear criteria governing how patients, the wounded, or other travelers are permitted to leave, how they reach the crossing, or what procedures are in place.
Coordinator of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, Amjad Shawa, stated that Israeli occupation forces are expected to impose further complications on the entry and exit of civilians through the crossing. He added that arrangements related to the departure of patients and wounded individuals via Rafah remain unclear, while Israel continues to block the entry of humanitarian aid through the same crossing.
In the same context, Director of the Medical Relief Society in Gaza, Mohammed Abu Afash, said that a full reopening of the crossing would save thousands of critical cases requiring surgical intervention. He emphasized, however, that there is still no clear mechanism to prioritize those in need of treatment outside the Strip.
Abu Afash noted that the overall picture regarding the operation of Rafah crossing remains unclear, particularly with regard to the transfer of patients and the wounded. He pointed out that, to date, there are no defined arrangements or a fixed mechanism for medical evacuation.
He explained that the World Health Organization had previously overseen the transfer of injured patients, but the current situation is marked by significant uncertainty, in the absence of clear coordination or announced procedures. He added that the number of cases requiring medical evacuation exceeds 20,000, far beyond the healthcare system's capacity in Gaza. (QNA)