Sixteen Palestinian children, including ten cancer patients, were evacuated from Gaza on Wednesday. This evacuation was part of an ongoing Jordanian initiative to assist civilians amidst the ongoing conflict.
This humanitarian effort is part of the "Jordan Medical Corridor," a larger initiative established by King Abdullah II. The program was announced during a White House meeting between the Jordanian leader and President Donald Trump in February. A Jordanian source indicated that Jordan aims to bring more child patients from Gaza in each evacuation batch and to expedite the process. However, the process faces limitations due to technical and logistical challenges faced by the World Health Organization, as well as restrictions imposed by Israel.
Despite these limitations, a total of 64 Palestinians were able to leave Gaza for Jordan on Wednesday. Among the evacuees was a 5-month-old baby suffering from severe malnutrition, a 6-year-old with explosive injury burns, and a 2-year-old with blood cancer. Four of the patients were transported by helicopter from the Israel-Jordan border. In Amman, the children will receive free medical treatment and housing until their care is complete, with the exception of two who will be flown to nearby countries.
The current Jordanian mandate aims to evacuate 2,000 children from the Palestinian enclave. Jordan is also continuing internal efforts to provide field hospital treatment and aid to those still in Gaza. A Jordanian source noted that ongoing Israeli operations make it difficult to ensure the safety of the child patients and their families during transportation. An Israeli official confirmed the evacuation took place at the Kerem Shalom crossing, highlighting cooperation between Israel and Jordan despite security challenges.
Earlier in the conflict, Jordan used C-130 aircraft to airdrop food into Gaza. These drops were sometimes coordinated with U.S. Central Command.
More than 600 days into the war, regional discussions continue to seek a ceasefire to end the suffering of Palestinian civilians and secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Jordan’s King Abdullah II has spoken out against discussions of forced displacement for Palestinians living in Gaza.
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