EU organises further medical evacuation from Gaza to European countries

The Commission has coordinated a new medical evacuation from Gaza via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, transferring 8 patients in need of urgent care and 25 accompanying family members to hospitals in Belgium, Romania and Spain. As the hostilities in Gaza have led to the collapse of local medical systems, 10 European countries have so far offered medical treatment or transport to vulnerable Palestinian patients.

In total, 59 patients from Gaza, together with 143 relatives, have now been evacuated to European hospitals, either from Egypt or directly from Gaza. The operation was financially and operationally supported by Commission, in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), EU Member States and Civil Protection Mechanism Participating States as well as relevant authorities on the ground. 

This is part of the EU’s overall support to people most in need in Gaza, which includes €238 million in humanitarian funding in 2024 as well as EU Air Bridge flights which have delivered over 3,400 tonnes of cargo.

Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: “The war in Gaza has led to a near complete shutdown of the Strip’s medical system. Access to healthcare is needed more than ever. We are therefore stepping up our medical evacuation to provide urgent care to Palestinians. I thank Belgium, Romania and Spain for welcoming the patients at their hospitals.”