EXCLUSIVE – On Wednesday, Jordan evacuated 16 Palestinian children from Gaza, including 10 cancer patients, as part of its ongoing initiative to assist civilians affected by the conflict, sources confirm.
This humanitarian effort falls under the “Jordan Medical Corridor” initiative, conceived by King Abdullah II and announced during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in February.
According to a Jordanian source, Jordan aims to increase the number of child patients evacuated from Gaza in each batch, but faces limitations due to technical and logistical issues encountered by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Israeli restrictions.
Despite these challenges, 64 Palestinians were evacuated from Gaza to Jordan on Wednesday. Among them was a 5-month-old infant suffering from severe malnutrition, a 6-year-old with burn injuries from an explosion, and a 2-year-old with blood cancer.
Four patients were transported by helicopter from the Israel-Jordan border. In Amman, all the children, except for two who will be transferred to other countries, will receive free medical care and housing until their treatment is complete.
Jordan’s current plan is to evacuate 2,000 children from Gaza while continuing its efforts to provide field hospital treatment and aid to those remaining in the territory.
A Jordanian source noted that ongoing Israeli operations complicate ensuring the safety of child patients and their families during transport to and within the assembly point.
An Israeli official confirmed the evacuation occurred at the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, stating that cooperation exists despite security concerns.
Earlier in the conflict, Jordan used C-130 aircraft to airdrop food into Gaza using parachuted pallets, some in coordination with U.S. Central Command.
More than 600 days into the conflict, regional discussions continue with the goal of achieving a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians and secure the release of the remaining 55 hostages held by Hamas.
King Abdullah II of Jordan has voiced opposition to any discussions of forced displacement for Palestinians in Gaza.