U.S. Confirms Ongoing Efforts to Recover Remains of Hostages Held in Gaza
Zurich,Switzerland – The United States affirmed Wednesday that it is continuing to work towards the repatriation of the remains of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza,as the humanitarian crisis within the territory deepens and the need for medical evacuations intensifies. This commitment comes amid growing concerns over the accessibility of key health facilities in Gaza and the escalating number of deaths among those awaiting medical care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 700 people have died while awaiting medical evacuation as the start of the conflict. WHO representative Rick Peeperkorn emphasized the urgent need for all medical corridors to remain open,including routes to hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,stating,”It’s vital and it’s the most economical route. If this path were opened, it would be a real game changer.” Peeperkorn also noted that several critical health facilities within Gaza, including Kamal-Adwan, Al-Awda, Indonesian, and European hospitals, are currently inaccessible and non-functional.
The WHO is planning two medical evacuations for next week, but Peeperkorn stressed the desire to establish daily evacuations, citing that at the current rate, evacuating the approximately 15,000 people – including 4,000 children – requiring care from Gaza would take around ten years. The opening of the Rafah crossing into Egypt could also facilitate treatment in Egypt or transfer to other countries, he added.
