Seven-year-old Gaza boy with leukemia denied exit for treatment

Muhammad al-Jabali, a 7-year-old with acute leukemia in Gaza, has been referred for treatment abroad but cannot leave because exit permits were refused for him and his companions.

Muhammad al-Jabali, a 7-year-old being treated for acute blood and bone marrow cancer in Gaza, has been referred for treatment outside the enclave but has been unable to leave. His mother said every companion the family put forward, including his father, brother, herself, her daughter, an uncle and an aunt, was rejected, and then the boy himself was refused passage. "He is a seven-year-old child. What is his fault that they reject him?" she asked.

Doctor Maysoun Hijazi said Muhammad was diagnosed about six months ago with a type of acute leukemia that affects the immune system and was moved to intensive care and put on a ventilator a week ago because of a severe infection. She said his condition is unstable and that the treatment he needs is not available in Gaza.

Outside a hospital in Gaza

Gaza's Health Ministry said Israel has kept the Rafah border crossing with Egypt closed to the evacuation of patients and wounded for a second week. According to the ministry, more than 1,344 patients and wounded people have died while waiting for treatment since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.