Sixteen Palestinian children, including ten battling cancer, were evacuated from Gaza on Wednesday as part of a Jordanian initiative aimed at assisting civilians caught in the ongoing conflict. This operation is part of a broader initiative known as the Jordanian Medical Corridor, which was introduced by King Abdullah II during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and other Jordanian leaders back in mid-February.
A source from Jordan stated that the country is eager to facilitate the transfer of more child patients from Gaza with each successful evacuation. However, challenges remain due to logistical issues and restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.
On the same day, 64 Palestinians successfully left for Jordan, including a 5-month-old suffering from severe malnutrition and several others with serious conditions, such as toddlers with blood cancer and a 6-year-old with severe burns.
Four of the children were transported by helicopters from the Israeli-Jordanian border. In Amman, all but two of the children—who are headed to another country—will be provided with free medical care and housing until their treatment is completed.
As per the current Jordanian plan, the goal is to evacuate 2,000 children from the Palestinian enclave while also striving to provide assistance and medical care for those remaining in Gaza.
However, a Jordanian source mentioned that the ongoing Israeli military operations make it increasingly difficult to ensure the safety of these young patients and their families during transport.
Israeli officials confirmed that the evacuations took place at the Kelem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, noting collaboration with Jordan despite the ongoing security challenges.
Earlier in the conflict, Jordan employed C-130 aircraft to drop food supplies into Gaza, utilizing large parachutes to deliver pallets—some of which were coordinated with U.S. Central Command.
Now, more than 600 days into the war, discussions are ongoing, aiming to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians, while hoping for a ceasefire that would secure the release of the remaining 55 hostages held by Hamas.
King Abdullah II has expressed his opposition to any debates around forced evacuations for Palestinians in Gaza.
