Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the evacuation of 150 sick and wounded Palestinian children from Gaza to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment. This decision, reported by an Israeli media outlet on Sunday, comes in the wake of a missile attack on a football field in Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including children.
The children were scheduled to be evacuated via Israel’s Ramon Airbase, but Netanyahu ordered a postponement following the Majdal Shams incident. The state-run broadcasting authority reported that the Prime Minister’s decision came as a response to the attack, which Israel attributes to Hezbollah, despite the Lebanese group’s denial of involvement. The delay has left the children, who are in dire need of medical care not available in Gaza, stranded without a new departure date.
The planned evacuation was to be managed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which was set to coordinate patient triage, transportation, and liaising with the Israel Defense Forces. According to Haaretz, a plane carrying approximately 250 patients was supposed to depart Israel on Sunday. Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI) condemned Netanyahu’s decision as “cruel and dangerous,” highlighting the dire humanitarian implications for the affected children.
“The immense grief over the 12 children killed in Majdal Shams must not be exploited for cynical political moves. Endangering sick Gazan children won’t bring back those lost,” PHRI wrote on social media. The organization has been advocating for the establishment of procedures to evacuate thousands of sick and wounded Gazans requiring urgent medical care.
The missile attack in Majdal Shams has escalated fears of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, as the region witnesses an exchange of cross-border attacks. Israel’s accusations against Hezbollah and the subsequent denial by the group have only intensified the already volatile situation. Following the attack, Israel launched strikes on Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon, further stoking fears of an all-out regional conflict.
Gaza has been devastated by nearly ten months of relentless warfare. Since last October, an Israeli onslaught has claimed the lives of over 39,300 people, with children bearing a significant portion of the brunt. Israeli forces have killed more than 14,000 Palestinian children in Gaza since the conflict began, leaving tens of thousands more wounded or missing. The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has exacerbated the crisis, making external medical intervention crucial.
Physicians for Human Rights–Israel has been at the forefront of legal and advocacy efforts to facilitate the evacuation of sick and wounded Gazans. Their work underscores the urgent need for humanitarian intervention in the face of political and military actions that disregard civilian lives. “This evacuation delay once more exposes Israel’s disregard for the lives of children and innocent civilians in Gaza,” PHRI stated. “Vengeance is not a legitimate policy.”
The response to the rocket attack in the Golan Heights has further complicated the already delicate situation. The Biden administration, which has provided military and diplomatic support to Israel’s assault on Gaza, has warned the Israeli government about the potential for the situation to spiral out of control if it continues its aggressive tactics. Axios reported that U.S. officials cautioned Israel against bombing Lebanon’s capital in response to the attack, emphasizing the need for restraint to avoid a broader conflict.
Noa Landau, Haaretz’s deputy editor-in-chief, criticized Netanyahu’s decision to delay the evacuation of the ill and injured children from Gaza as “miserable” and “stupid.” She highlighted the moral contradiction of “harming children to avenge the blood of other children.”
Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org, remarked, “Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot. We must continue to fight against efforts to silence our voices and ensure that every citizen can participate in our democratic process.”
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