Gaza’s health system failure forced over 50 patients to be evacuated

Forty-five sick or injured patients have been transported for treatment outside of the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s hospital strikes have brought the healthcare system to the verge of collapse.

The patients left the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis early on Tuesday and crossed the Karem Abu Salem crossing, also known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis, according to Palestinian health authorities reported by The Associated Press.

The United Arab Emirates will provide them with medical care. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza require medical care overseas but are unable to leave because of the Israeli military’s control over the Strip’s entry and exit ports.

The UN Human Rights Office has said that Israel’s strikes on and near hospitals have driven Gaza’s health system “to the brink of total collapse” and may have breached international law.