The European Union is calling on its member states to accept patients from Gaza who are in urgent need of medical evacuation due to the immense pressure on hospitals in the war-torn enclave. The call comes after the World Health Organisation formally requested assistance under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, providing a list of 109 severely ill and injured children in need of urgent treatment. The EU’s health and crisis management commissioners are urging national governments to show support and solidarity in evacuating these patients to hospitals outside of Gaza where they can receive life-saving treatment.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the EU has committed €193 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians and established an air bridge operation to deliver critical humanitarian cargo. Despite these efforts, over 35,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the conflict, and seriously ill and injured civilians are trapped in the besieged enclave. The potential evacuations would be the first of their kind under the Medevac scheme, which was originally established to facilitate medical evacuations from war-torn Ukraine to hospitals across the EU. The EU is drawing on its experience from past evacuation operations to provide support to the most vulnerable in Gaza.
The WHO reports that there are just 10 minimally functional hospitals remaining in Gaza, down from 36 prior to the conflict, with many being destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. The densely populated enclave, home to around two million Palestinians, is facing a severe health crisis with 9,000 patients in need of urgent medical attention. The 109 patients identified by the WHO as requiring immediate treatment have been shared with EU member states and partner countries. The EU commissioners stress the need for a coordinated effort involving the international community, including European countries, to provide the necessary logistical, medical, and financial support for these evacuations.
The letter from the EU commissioners emphasizes the importance of acting swiftly to ensure the safe evacuation of patients from Gaza to hospitals outside the enclave where they can receive the care they urgently need. They acknowledge the practical and administrative complexities of such an operation but express confidence that a collective European effort can overcome these challenges. The EU executive and member states are urged to demonstrate their readiness to accept patients from Gaza, showcasing their commitment to supporting those in need during this humanitarian crisis. The commissioners are calling for a strong show of support and solidarity from the EU nations in providing assistance to the severely ill and injured individuals in Gaza.
The EU has already taken significant steps in delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, including establishing an air bridge operation and contributing to the activation of a maritime corridor connecting Gaza with Cyprus. Now, with the urgent need to evacuate seriously ill and injured patients from the enclave, the EU is mobilizing its resources and expertise to support these individuals. The potential evacuations under the Medevac scheme represent a critical lifeline for those in Gaza who require immediate medical attention that is not available within the enclave. By coordinating a collective European effort, the EU aims to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of these vulnerable patients to hospitals where they can receive the life-saving treatment they urgently need.
