WHO: 16,500 Palestinian patients waiting to be evacuated from Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be reopened for urgent medical evacuations of 16,500 Palestinian patients in Gaza. 

“The Rafah crossing is a vital exit for medical evacuations and a key entry for health supplies into Gaza. Egypt remains one of the main destinations for patients needing urgent care,” WHO wrote in a post on X.

The agency said about 4,000 Palestinian patients have left Gaza through Rafah for treatment in Egypt and elsewhere.

Medical supplies for Gaza, meanwhile, “are on standby at the border”, it added.

The Rafah crossing is a vital exit for medical evacuations and a key entry for health supplies into #Gaza. #Egypt remains one of the main destinations for patients needing urgent care.@WHO has transferred around 4 000 patients through Rafah for treatment in Egypt and beyond.… pic.twitter.com/Jzp0KThnC4

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 8, 2025