Some Gaza cancer patients denied exit through Rafah

Some Gaza cancer patients denied exit through Rafah Cancer patients in the Gaza Strip are facing additional challenges as they struggle to access life-saving medical treatment. As the sole border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing has been a vital lifeline for patients seeking medical care outside of the region. However, in recent months, the Egyptian authorities have significantly restricted the number of permits issued to patients, leading to delays and denials of essential treatment. Gaza, a small coastal territory controlled by Hamas, has been under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since 2007. The blockade has severely restricted the movement of goods and people, including access to medical treatments. As a result, many Palestinians rely on Rafah crossing to travel to other countries for specialized healthcare. In the past, cancer patients were given priority at the Rafah crossing, with special arrangements made to ensure their prompt passage. However, since May 2021, the situation has changed dramatically. Patients and their families have reported facing arbitrary denials of exit permits, with no clear explanations provided. One such patient is Ibrahim Abu Sadeq, a 25-year-old Gaza resident diagnosed with bone cancer. Ibrahim requires immediate surgery and a bone marrow transplant, procedures that cannot be conducted in Gaza due to the lack of necessary medical facilities. Despite having all the required documentation from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Ibrahim's application for an exit permit was denied by the Egyptian authorities. The denial has left Ibrahim and his family devastated, as they