Israel canceled coordination for patient evacuations, says Palestinian Red Crescent

By Hosni Nedim and Ramzi Mahmud

GAZA, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli officials canceled the coordination for evacuating the third batch of patients and injured people from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah land crossing, leading to the postponement of their departure, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Wednesday.

Raed Al-Nems, Red Crescent Society's spokesman in Gaza, told Anadolu in a statement that the World Health Organization informed them of the cancellation without providing reasons.

Al-Nems said the Palestinian Red Crescent’s teams were fully prepared to evacuate patients from Al-Amal Hospital, affiliated with the society in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, but the last-minute cancellation of coordination prevented the operation from being carried out.

The society is awaiting the resumption of coordination in hopes that the third batch of patients and wounded can be evacuated on Thursday, given the difficult humanitarian and health conditions faced by patients inside the Gaza Strip, he added.

Early Wednesday, 40 Palestinians — including women and children — returned to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah land crossing with Egypt, while a similar number departed, on the third day since the crossing was partially reopened under strict Israeli restrictions.

On Monday, the Rafah crossing resumed operations. On the first day, 12 Palestinians returned to Gaza and 20 departed, while on the second day, Tuesday, 40 arrived and 40 departed, according to Anadolu’s correspondent, citing relevant sources.

The ceasefire ended an Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 and lasted two years, killing more than 71,000 Palestinians and wounding over 171,000 others, while destroying about 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure. Israel also continues to carry out attacks in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

* Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul.