Geneva, Switzerland
The World Health Organization has reported that more than 1,000 patients in the Gaza Strip died while awaiting medical evacuation between July 2024 and November 28, 2025, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the territory. WHO’s representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn, stressed that these deaths reflect a system pushed to the brink, with patients unable to access life-saving treatment outside Gaza or in better-equipped hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
According to WHO, a total of 1,092 patients died during this period. The figure is based on data reported by Gaza’s health authorities and is likely an undercount, as not all deaths may have been formally recorded. Many patients required urgent specialized care unavailable within the territory due to damaged medical infrastructure and severe shortages of supplies.
Peeperkorn called on the international community to accept patients from Gaza and to restore medical evacuation pathways. He emphasized that delayed evacuations often amount to a death sentence for critically ill individuals, including children and patients with chronic conditions, whose treatment cannot be provided locally.
The health system in Gaza continues to operate under extreme strain. Only 18 out of 36 hospitals were partially functioning at the time of the report, and 43 percent of primary health care centers were operational. Persistent shortages of essential medicines and equipment, coupled with restrictions on imports, have left many hospitals unable to provide even basic care.
“The situation is catastrophic,” Peeperkorn told the United Nations press briefing. “Thousands of patients remain on waiting lists for transfers to hospitals outside Gaza. Without urgent international support, more lives will be lost.”
WHO officials also noted that over 18,500 patients are still awaiting evacuation, reflecting the scale of unmet healthcare needs. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that without a rapid and coordinated response, including the safe passage of medical supplies and approval of patient transfers, civilian suffering will continue to escalate.
The report underscores the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where conflict, blockades, and restricted access to essential services have created life-threatening conditions. The deaths of patients waiting for evacuation have drawn urgent calls from humanitarian organizations for international cooperation and action to prevent further loss of life.
Peeperkorn concluded by urging countries to streamline approvals for medical transfers and to work with local authorities to ensure critical patients receive treatment without further delay. The WHO continues to monitor the situation closely, calling for immediate intervention to address the mounting medical emergency in Gaza.
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