Gaza Health Ministry Urges Rafah Opening Amid Deadly Israeli Strikes
Gaza's Health Ministry called for the Rafah crossing to open for medical treatment as Israeli attacks killed at least two.
At least two Palestinians were killed and others wounded in the latest Israeli attacks across Gaza on Thursday, prompting the strip's Health Ministry to renew its urgent call for the Rafah crossing to be opened. The ministry stated that dozens have died while awaiting medical evacuation for treatment abroad.
Israeli attacks have continued at a "very high pace" throughout the territory, with drone strikes targeting civilian areas and escalating shelling in the north. The ongoing military operations underscore the dire humanitarian situation and the critical need for medical access for the injured.
According to Al Jazeera's correspondent Ashraf Abu Amra, a drone strike on a civilian car in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in two deaths and several injuries. One critically wounded individual was taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Earlier, an Israeli strike in Jabalia injured another Palestinian, who was transported to al-Shifa Hospital.
The implications of continued Israeli military action and the closure of the Rafah crossing are severe for the wounded and sick in Gaza. The Health Ministry's plea highlights the critical gap in medical care, forcing patients to seek treatment outside the besieged territory.
Further Israeli shelling was reported in eastern Gaza City's Shujayea, Tuffah, and Zeitoun neighborhoods. Israeli forces have also been engaged in large-scale demolitions of homes and infrastructure in areas behind the "Yellow Line," including east of Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis, Gaza City, and Beit Lahiya.
Earlier on Thursday, four Palestinians, identified as civilian employees of the Ministry of Economy monitoring aid trucks, were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah. More than 30 others sustained injuries in the same incident.
These attacks come as international pressure mounts for humanitarian pauses and increased access for essential services. The Health Ministry's repeated calls for the opening of the Rafah crossing emphasize the urgent need to evacuate critically ill and wounded patients.
The situation remains volatile, with ongoing strikes and demolitions compounding the humanitarian crisis. The ability of Palestinians to access life-saving medical treatment outside Gaza is severely hampered by the continued closure of border crossings and the intensity of military operations.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available news reporting. Original reporting by the linked source.