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Dozens of Western nations on Monday issued a joint appeal to Israel, urging the reopening of the long-closed medical corridor between Gaza and the West Bank.
The corridor has served as a lifeline for Palestinians requiring advanced treatment unavailable inside Gaza’s struggling health system.
The statement, coordinated by Canada and backed by European nations including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Union, stressed the urgent humanitarian need.
“We strongly appeal to Israel to restore the medical corridor to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, so medical evacuations from Gaza can be resumed and patients can get the treatment that they so urgently need on Palestinian territory,” the statement read.
Notably, the United States was absent from the list of signatories, though its closest allies, Britain and France, have recently voiced support for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. The omission highlighted ongoing differences between Washington and European capitals over how to address the crisis.
The joint statement also went beyond appeals for patient transfers, urging Israel to lift restrictions on the delivery of medicine and medical equipment to Gaza.
Aid agencies have long warned that severe shortages of essential supplies are undermining already fragile hospitals. The World Health Organization (WHO) in May described Gaza’s health system as being “at breaking point.”
Israel has not immediately responded to the latest appeal. In past discussions, Israeli officials have rejected similar requests, citing security concerns.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed calls to reopen the corridor during a meeting with his Danish counterpart, saying medical transfers could be exploited by militant groups.
Meanwhile, Palestinians continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. On Monday, several people waiting for US humanitarian aid near Rafah were injured in the al-Shakoush area and transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Hospitals across Gaza are overwhelmed, lacking both capacity and critical supplies.
While some patients have been transferred to Arab and European countries for treatment, Palestinian health officials say this remains an inadequate substitute. “What our patients need is consistent access to hospitals in their own homeland, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” one official said.
International aid groups have echoed these concerns. In late August, humanitarian agencies reported that only a fraction of the aid required was reaching Gaza, despite Israel easing its strict blockade on relief supplies in May. They warn that without immediate action, Gaza’s health sector may collapse entirely.
The appeal from Western nations underscores growing frustration within the international community. Canada and its European allies say they are ready to provide financial aid, medical staff, and equipment if the corridor is reopened. But without Israeli approval, their pledges remain stalled at the border.
For now, the call for action highlights both the urgency of Gaza’s medical crisis and the deepening divide between Israel and key Western partners over humanitarian access and Palestinian rights.