In a profound reflection of the humanitarian challenges faced by Palestinians, the case of Hanin Muhammad and her sister serves as a poignant reminder of their resilience amid adversity. Stranded in Baghdad for nearly two years, Muhammad’s struggle to reunite with her six children in Gaza echoes the plight of countless others, revealing the intricacies of medical care, displacement, and bureaucratic hurdles that define their lives. This ongoing ordeal underscores the need for increased international attention and compassion toward displaced individuals as they navigate dire circumstances for the sake of their loved ones.
More than two years ago, Hanin Muhammad, a resident of Gaza, was flown to Baghdad for medical treatment accompanied by her 39-year-old sister Sabreen, a kidney transplant recipient. Since their arrival, however, local authorities have retained Muhammad’s travel documents, effectively confining her within the Private Nursing Home Hospital located in Baghdad’s Medical City complex. The distance from her home in Gaza has turned into a prolonged separation, leaving her emotionally drained as she yearns for the company of her six children. Muhammad lamented her situation, expressing the pain of being unable to see her family for nearly three years.
Her home in Rafah was destroyed during military actions, forcing her children to seek refuge in makeshift tents between Rafah and Khan Younis. Due to limited connectivity, she relies on third parties for updates about her children’s condition. As the sole entry and exit point for Palestinians, the Rafah crossing into Egypt has become a critical lifeline, but its accessibility remains fraught with complications.
Muhammad is part of a small group of 46 Palestinians who were evacuated to Iraq for medical treatment in May 2024, including patients and family escorts. According to health authorities, the group consists of individuals with severe medical conditions, including five oncology patients, and highlights a broader crisis affecting more than 20,000 people in Gaza currently awaiting medical care abroad.
The urgency is reflected in the statistics: over the past years, thousands of children in Gaza have suffered from severe injuries due to military actions, with a staggering number waiting for essential medical treatment. Despite the desperation, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports that only a few hundred children have been able to leave Gaza since the Rafah crossing partially reopened amidst stringent restrictions.
For those who made it to Iraq, the expected respite quickly transforms into a prolonged state of uncertainty, as their identification and travel documents have been confiscated, denying them the ability to leave. Complaints about the lack of transparency and support from Iraqi authorities have been met with bureaucratic silence, leaving evacuees in limbo.
Noor Ibrahim, a young woman who accompanied her aunt for cancer treatment, articulates the despair of being stranded. Engaged for four years, she left with the hope that her stay in Iraq would be temporary, only to find herself cut off from her fiancé and family for two years. The physical and emotional toll of this confinement has exacerbated her own health concerns.
Life inside Baghdad’s Medical City complex has become increasingly challenging for the displaced Palestinians. The evacuees report severe material deprivation and a lack of financial support, forcing them to rely on local goodwill for basic needs. Samah Abdul Moati, a 65-year-old cancer patient, illustrates the hardship faced daily: “The hospital provides food, but it is often inedible. We are surviving on the kindness of strangers,” she shared, emphasizing the overwhelming desire to reunite with her family who are living in precarious conditions back in Gaza.
In addition to their health struggles, those who have attempted to voice their plight have faced retaliatory measures from authorities, further complicating their situation. The reluctance of officials to address their needs exacerbates the administrative obstacles they face, leaving many in a state of despair as they await answers.
Health Ministry representatives have acknowledged the challenges but have indicated that the situation is politically driven, complicating the resolution of these humanitarian needs. With financial barriers enforcing their confinement, the Palestinian evacuees in Baghdad continue to advocate for their right to travel, yearning for the day they can reunite with their families. They plead for immediate assistance to facilitate safe passage back to their homeland, underscoring their longing for basic human rights and dignity amidst ongoing turmoil.
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