Gaza's cancer patients trapped as medical evacuations lag

Thousands of cancer patients in Gaza are awaiting medical evacuations abroad amid a dire shortage of treatment options in the Strip. Israel has allowed only 11,000 patients to exit through Rafah Crossing, fewer than half of what was expected under the October ceasefire agreement. Khuloud Abu Sahmoud, 33, has gone three months without cancer treatment, relying on painkillers as she waits for a chance to leave with her child. Elham Al-Skafi, 38, has had a transfer referral for a year and a half and is still waiting, blaming the Israeli blockade. Health officials say nearly 5,000 cancer patients need treatment abroad, but with only a handful allowed to leave each week, doctors at the Gaza Cancer Centre at Nasser Hospital say the queue keeps growing, and many patients cannot afford to wait any longer. Al Jazeera's Ibrahim Al Khalili reports from Gaza City.

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