GENEVA, 16 Nov. - (ANA) - More than 900 Palestinians died from Gaza while waiting for medical evacuations due to Israeli restrictions on travel permits, acording to the World Health Organization (WHO) .

 

Palestinian news agency WAFA cited the UN's health body as saying that at around 16,500 patients are still awaiting evacuation from the war-battered enclave, but continue to face delays from Israel.

 

The WHO also highlighted that Gaza's hospitals are operating at less than half their capacity due to shortages of fuel, medicines, and other essentials.

 

"I thank the 30 countries that have opened their doors to receive patients for care and call on others to join - more than 16,500 patients, including almost 4000 children, are awaiting evacuation to receive urgent care outside of Gaza," WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X on Saturday.

 

"We also call for the opening of all evacuation routes, particularly to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Health and healing cannot wait," he added.

 

During the course of Israel's war on the enclave, Israeli forces have deliberately targeted hospitals and other key infrastructure, while enforcing a crippling siege. Despite a ceasefire coming into force in October, aid groups and Gaza's authorities have said that the level of aid entering Gaza is insufficient.

 

Medical staff have also come under attack, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting earlier this year that at least 1,500 Gaza healthworkers and paramedics have been killed by Israel. Israeli forces have also abducted and held medical workers without charge or trial.

 

The WHO has carried out 119 evacuation missions from Gaza since May 2024, transferring 8,000 patients out of Gaza for treatment, including 5,500 children.

 

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 69,100 Palestinians, and wounded a further 169,000 people since October 2023, according to Gaza's health ministry.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/16 November 2025 - - -