‘Please take us to mum’: Families torn apart by Israel's occupation of Rafah crossing

When Anoud was diagnosed with stomach cancer in July 2023, she never imagined her path to recovery would unfold amid a brutal war that would tear her from her husband and two young daughters.

That summer, when presented with a treatment plan, doctors informed Anoud that she would need to travel frequently to the occupied West Bank for chemotherapy sessions, as they were unavailable in the besieged Gaza Strip.

A few months later, war erupted in Gaza and the Israeli military tightened its siege on the enclave, blocking essential supplies such as water, electricity, fuel, food and vital medications. This left countless Palestinians without access to the necessary treatments or the possibility of seeking them elsewhere.

“She was supposed to travel to take her doses, but she couldn’t due to the war. Unfortunately, that led to the spread of cancer in her body. Her condition has deteriorated to the point where she has lost the ability to move,” her husband, Ibrahim Rayyan, told Middle East Eye.

After numerous appeals, the Palestinian health ministry in the West Bank facilitated Anoud's travel to Egypt.

Read more: Families torn apart by Israel's occupation of Rafah crossing