It was a glimmer of familial normality in Gaza for a nine-year-old and her younger sibling that ended in tragedy. Hanan is one of thousands of critically ill patients waiting for medical evacuation from Gaza but unable to leave following the closure of the Rafah crossing to Egypt in early May. The only hope for many is to be evacuated through the Rafah crossing into Egypt and get treatment in neighboring countries. Since May 7, not one single case has been able to leave through Rafah, creating a backlog of desperation and severe cases. “The Rafah crossing should be reopened as quickly as possible,” Peeperkorn says, “or there should be an alternative crossing or mechanism actually applied because we cannot leave these critical patients.

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Persons: CNN — Hanan Aqel, ” Hanan, Hanan, Mahmoud Mahane, Hanan Aqel, handout Hanan, Mohammad Al, ”, “, Rik Peeperkorn, Peeperkorn, ” Peeperkorn, European Union –, Kholoud, Malak Organizations: CNN, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Health, West Bank, European Union, Nasser Locations: Gaza, Al, Aqsa, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, Jerusalem, Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, COGAT, Palestinian Territories