However the principle conduit via which Gazans might go away — the Rafah crossing with Egypt — shut down after Israeli forces captured it in Might throughout a army offensive. Egypt shuttered its aspect of the gateway in protest, and the Gazan half was later destroyed in a fireplace, based on the Israeli army, seemingly dashing hopes that the crossing can be reopened within the close to future.
A minimum of two sick Gazans who have been scheduled to go away in early Maydied as a result of they weren’t allowed to evacuate in time to get lifesaving care, their relations mentioned.
With the Rafah crossing closed, the group of youngsters allowed to go away on Thursday was taken into Israeli territory via one other border level, Kerem Shalom, earlier than being delivered to Egypt. The transfer didn’t seem to instantly herald a brand new everlasting route for the critically sick to securely go away Gaza.
One of many youngsters who made the crossing on Thursday was a 10-month-old woman named Sadeel Hamdan.
For months, her household had regarded on with rising dread as Sadeel’s situation deteriorated. Her stomach swelled like a balloon due to extreme liver failure, and he or she desperately wanted a transplant, her father, Tamer Hamdan, mentioned.
On Thursday morning — after weeks of ready — Mr. Hamdan and Sadeel have been lastly permitted to go away the enclave. After coming into Israel, they have been ferried together with different sufferers to Nitzana, an Israeli border crossing, the place they entered Egyptian territory, he mentioned.
“Thank God,” mentioned Mr. Hamdan, who was reached by telephone as he sat in a bus on the Egyptian aspect of the checkpoint. “We’re so completely happy that we introduced out Sadeel safely. Now we simply want to finish her therapy.”
Their departure from Gaza, nevertheless, was bittersweet. Mr. Hamdan traveled together with his daughter in order that he could possibly be a partial liver donor, however his spouse and three different youngsters weren’t permitted to hitch them. He mentioned he feared for his or her destiny in Gaza.
“We’re all heading into the unknown,” he mentioned.
For every affected person who left, there have been many others left behind. Muna Abu Holi, a university professor from central Gaza, survived an explosion that killed one in every of her daughters and left two others critically wounded.
Each of her surviving daughters had obtained approval to journey via the Rafah crossing on Might 7 for medical therapy, based on paperwork from the Gaza Well being Ministry. However the Israeli offensive led to the border’s shutting down.
“We’re greedy for any doable hope,” Ms. Abu Holi mentioned. “Every bit of stories we hear, we cling to.”