• Western nations urge Israel to restore the medical corridor for Gaza patients.
• Dozens of countries offer financial and medical aid for patient treatment.
• Israel faces international pressure amid ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Western nations, led by Canada, have urged Israel to reopen the medical corridor between Gaza and the occupied West Bank, asserting the urgent need for medical care for Gaza patients. In a joint statement, foreign ministers from Canada and over 20 countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany, emphasized their readiness to provide support in the form of financial aid and medical supplies for Palestinian patients requiring treatment outside of Gaza, particularly in East Jerusalem. They called upon Israel to lift restrictions on the delivery of medicines and medical supplies, essential for emergency care, according to aa and trtglobal.

The statement from the Western nations highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where an estimated 65,000 Palestinians have been killed amid ongoing violence. Medical facilities in Gaza are reported to be at a breaking point, with the World Health Organization indicating a severe shortage of necessary treatments and supplies since June 2023. This compounded crisis is drawing significant international attention, with many asserting that it constitutes a form of genocide, according to Reuters and trtglobal.

Moreover, while Israel has indicated willingness in the past to evacuate some patients to Arab and European countries for treatment, many argue that this does not substitute for the need for comprehensive access to hospitals in other Palestinian territories. This situation continues to draw criticism from international observers, further complicating the regional political landscape as nations push for a two-state solution amidst the chaos, according to aa and Reuters.