In a small apartment in Khan Younis, Abeer al-Awady anxiously counts the minutes until a long-awaited ceasefire. Her daughter Hanaa’s life depends on it. The 15-year-old suffers excruciating pain from cancer, her swollen eyes reacting painfully to light. Abeer is desperate for the Rafah crossing to open, allowing Hanaa to seek crucial medical treatment.
For the many injured Palestinians, this ceasefire, approved by the Israeli cabinet, is more than a milestone in diplomacy; it’s a matter of life and death. War has devastated the healthcare system in Gaza, leaving it without many of the resources it needs. According to Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa Medical Complex, many patients can only hope for treatment abroad.
Abeer remembers how the cancer diagnosis of her daughter shook her to the core, having left her daughter unable to eat, with a tube inserted in her stomach. Due to the acute shortage of medicines and other medical supplies, Hanaa has not received any treatment for the past three months. “All she gets are painkillers,” lamented Abeer, agonized over the deteriorating health of her daughter.
According to Dr. Abu Salmiya, an estimated 20,000 Palestinians need urgent medical care, with 12,000 in critical condition. The ongoing violence has killed scores of medical professionals, further stressing a system where only 16 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially operational.
As the ceasefire draws near, families like Abeer’s cling to hope. “The ceasefire and Rafah’s reopening are our only hope,” she said, capturing the desperation felt by many in Gaza. Without access to specialized care, the lives of countless patients hang in the balance.
