Israeli closure of Rafah crossing leads to over 1,000 deaths in Gaza

15/8/2024 5:53

        At least 1,000 deaths have been reported in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli army's ongoing closure of the Rafah crossing for over 100 days, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Wednesday.
        Ismail Thawabteh, head of the office, told a press conference at Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza that the Israeli authorities' restriction on travel for 25,000 patients and wounded individuals seeking treatment abroad has led to more than 1,000 deaths in the past 100 days.
        Thawabteh warned that the remaining individuals face the threat of death due to the denial of their access to medical treatment.
        Thawabteh held both the Israeli authorities and the U.S. administration responsible for the severe consequences of the Rafah crossing closure, including the hindrance of medical supplies, health delegations, and humanitarian aid.
        The crossing has been closed since the Israeli army announced the imposition of its control over the Palestinian side on May 7.
        Situated between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing is the main gateway for transporting those injured and patients for treatment abroad and delivering humanitarian and relief assistance into the enclave.
        Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, which has led to the death of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.