A two-year-old Palestinian toddler, Habiba al-Askari, faced a perilous battle for her life as she awaited urgent medical evacuation from Gaza. Suffering from a rare genetic condition, Habiba's situation highlighted the dire circumstances surrounding medical evacuations in the region. Admitted to Gaza's Nasser Hospital with a severe lung infection, she was diagnosed with protein C deficiency—a condition that causes excessive blood clotting. Doctors warned of the dire consequences if she did not receive immediate medical intervention, predicting the potential loss of her right leg and possibly her arms.
The World Health Organization reports that between 12,000 to 14,000 individuals in Gaza require medical evacuation. Among them, the United Nations identifies 2,500 children in urgent need of such interventions. Habiba's case gained international attention after Israel initially approved her treatment abroad but subsequently denied authorization for medical evacuations for over two weeks.
A breakthrough came when Jordan intervened, deciding to evacuate Habiba to Amman following a CNN report on her condition. The mission, however, faced delays; Israel postponed the evacuation and later refused to permit Habiba's mother, Rana, to accompany her daughter. Despite these challenges, a Jordanian medical team awaited at the King Hussein Bridge to transfer Habiba to a hospital in Amman.
Habiba's journey from Gaza's health ministry to the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel culminated in her handover to the Jordanian medical team. This transfer marked the end of an arduous process underscored by the Israeli military campaign's impact since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. These events have devastated Gaza's medical infrastructure and exacerbated conditions of starvation and disease.
Arwa Damon, founder of the relief organization INARA, described the complexities involved in facilitating children's medical evacuations from Gaza.
“It’s like trying to navigate a twisted reality TV show… where the rules for survival are… constantly shifting and the stakes are a child’s life,” – Damon
She further emphasized that Habiba's struggles were emblematic of the broader challenges faced by many in similar situations.
“What we have faced trying to get Habiba out is not unique to her, it’s the status quo.” – Damon
The mission to evacuate Habiba was unnecessarily complicated, according to a senior Jordanian official. Nevertheless, after approval at the highest levels in Jordan, Habiba was evacuated by the Jordanian military on Monday.
COGAT, the Israeli aid agency responsible for coordinating governmental activities in the territories, stated:
“Israel has approved Habiba Mahmoud Abd al-Nasser Askari’s departure to Jordan for medical treatment, accompanied by her mother and her 10-year-old brother.” – COGAT
However, this approval came with conditions.
“Subject to a security review by relevant authorities before their entry into Israel’s sovereign territory,” – COGAT
Despite these assurances, Rana had to endure the separation from her daughter during this critical time. Her words captured the emotional toll of the experience.
“Oh Lord I pray to you for a miracle, but if this is your will, I will accept it” – Rana
In recent months, COGAT has facilitated 24 medical evacuations from Gaza through Israel to other countries for 1,075 Gaza residents seeking medical care. However, according to Damon and other relief organizations, these processes often lack clarity and consistency.
