Brussels: The European commissioner for equality, preparedness, and crisis management announced that 38 patients and 99 of their relatives had been medically evacuated from Gaza. "Through the Civil Protection Mechanism, 38 patients from Gaza and 99 relatives were medically evacuated last night," Hadja Lahbib stated on US social media company X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lahbib expressed gratitude towards Belgium, Italy, and Trkiye for receiving the patients. She also acknowledged the World Health Organization, Italy, Serbia, and Trkiye for their assistance in providing transport for the evacuees.

Under a months-long Israeli embargo of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and equipment, the few remaining hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been hard-pressed to provide even basic medical care to the enclave's more than 2 million residents. The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal war in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 61,700 Palestinians and severely impacting its health care system.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.