Gaza Crisis Deepens as Thousands Require Medical Evacuation and Memorials Mark Journalists Killed
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a critical shortage of medical care in Gaza, where more than 15,800 patients require urgent evacuation, Anadolu Agency reported. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the organization recently evacuated 18 children and one adult, alongside 62 companions, to Jordan. Since October 2023, WHO has facilitated evacuations for over 7,600 patients, including 5,300 children, but emphasized that thousands more remain in urgent need of care. Tedros called for additional countries to accept patients and urged the restoration of medical evacuation routes to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. He noted, “The best medicine is peace.”
Israel’s military campaign has killed nearly 63,000 Palestinians since October 2023, devastating the enclave and contributing to famine conditions. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, while Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
On the humanitarian front, 14 UN Security Council members declared Gaza’s famine a “man-made crisis,” urging Israel to lift restrictions and enforce a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, while the United States dismissed famine assessments.
During a session on Wednesday, August 27, the United Nations Security Council, except for the United States, declared that famine in Gaza is a “man-made crisis” and urged an immediate ceasefire, calling on Israel to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Amid the crisis, hundreds gathered in London to commemorate Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza, in an event organized by the Freelance Branch of the National Union of Journalists outside Downing Street. The memorial honored journalists such as Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif, who was killed despite being flagged as at risk. Speakers highlighted repeated attacks on media personnel, including the five journalists killed in an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital, and criticized the international community for insufficient response.
Palestinian journalist Ahmed Alnaouq emphasized that Israel continues targeting journalists with impunity, and the memorial concluded with the reading of the deceased journalists’ names and a funeral prayer in absentia. Since October 2023, 246 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks, underscoring the dangers facing media workers amid the ongoing conflict.
