Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says Amina is one of 300 Palestinians who have died waiting for medical evacuations since the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began there last October.
The figures are also used by the World Health Organization (WHO), which assists with patient transfers via Gaza’s Israeli-controlled border crossings with Israel and Egypt.
Thousands of others – the health ministry currently says 15,000 – are still waiting for treatment abroad – some for war-related injuries; others for conditions such as cancer.
The list of evacuees is constantly fluctuating, as patients’ conditions and decisions change, meaning not all deaths may be recorded.
Since the ceasefire began over eight months ago, the WHO says 1,977 people have left Gaza for medical treatment. Unless the process speeds up, it could take years to evacuate all those in need.
“We are talking about something that feels like a miracle,” Saber said. “If a patient’s name is selected and they are granted permission to travel for treatment abroad, it is almost a miracle.”
After being approved by Gaza’s medical referral board, patients must pass security checks by Israel, the host nation and any transit countries – and also be accepted by a host nation for treatment, which is not always a simple process.
“Many recipient countries are quite specific in the type of patients they can support – for example, some only want children; others only want patients for shorter treatments,” said Dr Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Then patients and their companions need visas for the host country, and to pass security checks by Israel, Egypt/Jordan and the host country.”
In early June, the Gaza health ministry’s acting undersecretary, Maher Shamia, said the primary causes of the delays were the lengthy security screening process and the limits imposed by Israeli authorities on the number of departures.
He added that Palestinians were only allowed to leave via the Rafah crossing with Egypt three days a week, and that medical evacuations via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel took place only one day a week.
The Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in Gaza, Cogat, said departures were subject to the receipt of an official request from a receiving country willing to accept a patient and the completion of security screening by relevant authorities.
The “vast majority” of requests submitted by countries and organisations had been approved since the start of 2025, it added.