Gaza journalists demand medical evacuation as syndicate cites movement restrictions
With the World Health Organization reporting more than 18,500 patients requiring specialist care, the syndicate holds Israel responsible for blocking Rafah crossing while criticising global inaction.
Members of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate held a sit-in at their Gaza City headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the urgent medical evacuation of injured and sick journalists from the strip. The syndicate reports that more than 40 Palestinian journalists are living with serious war-related injuries or medical conditions that require treatment only available outside Gaza.
The protest highlighted the plight of photojournalist Mohammed al-Qahouji, who survived an Israeli air raid in January 2024 that killed two colleagues and left him with severe injuries. Al-Qahouji, who has undergone more than 25 surgeries including facial reconstructive procedures and the amputation of a finger, is seeking rehabilitation abroad. He stated that his injuries have reduced his ability to work by nearly 90 percent, leaving him torn between continuing his documentation and seeking life-changing surgery.
Syndicate secretary-general Ahed Farwana submitted medical documentation to international organisations, urging them to facilitate evacuations and guarantee the journalists' right to return after treatment. Farwana described the right to medical treatment as a basic human right that should not be denied due to war or movement restrictions, while criticising international bodies for limiting their response to "statements of concern."
The situation is compounded by severe movement restrictions at the Rafah crossing, the primary route for patients seeking treatment abroad. Israel has been blamed for limiting access through the crossing, allowing only small numbers of sick Palestinians and their companions to leave periodically. Aid agencies have warned that these restrictions have delayed access to essential treatment for thousands of patients with serious injuries and chronic illnesses.
The World Health Organization states that more than 18,500 patients in Gaza currently require urgent medical evacuation for specialised care unavailable locally. Since the start of the war, only a fraction of those in need have been able to leave through a limited medical evacuation mechanism, with thousands remaining on waiting lists. Photojournalist Moaz al-Salhi, suffering from deteriorating Crohn’s disease, attended the protest to highlight the personal toll of these barriers.
