On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Israel halted a government initiative to relocate a number of Palestinian patients, primarily cancer sufferers, to Gaza, allowing them for now to remain in East Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The move came as a result of a concerted effort by Physicians for Human Rights—Israel (PHRI), a zealous human rights advocacy group, following a report by CNN on the planned relocation. Consequently, the slated Thursday morning deportation via buses was interrupted temporarily by this high court ruling.
PHRI expressed relief at the decision, underscoring that they had for the moment stalled the forced return of 20 Palestinian patients and their families to Gaza. This cohort includes children who are either combatting cancer or healing from bone marrow transplants.
Given the continued struggle in Gaza, the patients who were expected to be repatriated voiced concern regarding their return after almost half a year of conflict. Amidst this, international groups have alleged war crimes against Israel, noting that the incessant conflict led to substantial civilian casualties, destruction of medical facilities and even refugee camps. Studies by BBC and the Guardian showcased that more than 50% of establishments in the area have suffered damage or been demolished entirely.
Further escalating the struggle of the inhabitants is the imminent threat of famine. Overall, Palestinians face a grim reality of a crumpled healthcare system and an impending humanitarian crisis. In response, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to take necessary steps to prevent potential genocide in Gaza. Opposing these accusations, Israel has claimed that Hamas continues to operate from civilian infrastructures. This story is currently developing and will be updated as more information becomes available. To read the full story, please click here.