Six-year-old Palestinian cancer patient flown to UAE for treatment dies

Young boy had been battling an advanced stage of lymphoblastic leukaemia and faced complications, Health Ministry says

Injured children from Gaza were brought to the UAE. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Injured children were brought to Abu Dhabi International Airport

The move is part of humanitarian efforts by the UAE

Injured children from Gaza arrive in the UAE

About 1,000 people in total are expected to come to the UAE for treatment from Gaza

Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish, Egypt. The chartered plane brought injured children from Gaza to the UAE.

Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish.

More than 20 doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians from the UAE’s Burjeel Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City assessed patients.

Patients were evacuated late on Friday when the Rafah border opened during a humanitarian pause after more than six weeks of continuous Israeli bombardment on Gaza.

Patients were taken to UAE following an initiative from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed that will allow injured Palestinian children from Gaza to be flown in for treatment at UAE hospitals.

Medics arrive in Al Arish ahead of bringing the injured to the UAE.

Gallant Knight 3 was launched on November 5 under the leadership of the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence, along with other partners.

The initiative also provides volunteering opportunities for doctors registered with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi

Since the announcement of the UAE operation, Gallant Knight 3, the UAE has flown out several cargo planes carrying equipment and medical supplies for the hospital

Patients boarded the aircraft in Al Arish after being evacuated from Gaza

The injured people and their relatives are the first batch of 1,000 women and children to be evacuated to the UAE

For those not medically fit to fly out of Al Arish, the Emirati Red Crescent is to build a field hospital near the Rafah border where patients can receive treatment.

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

A six-year-old Palestinian boy who was flown from Gaza to the UAE to receive treatment for an advanced stage of cancer has died.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said on Wednesday that the young boy had been battling a severe case of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and numerous complications.

The child was one of many transported from the Gaza Strip to UAE hospitals to receive urgent medical treatment, as part of the country's humanitarian initiative ordered by President Sheikh Mohamed.

His identity has not been disclosed.

“The Ministry of Health and Prevention announced the unfortunate death of a six-year-old child who had recently arrived in the country from the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said on Wednesday.

“The young patient was battling an advanced stage of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and faced numerous complications.”

The ministry also extended its condolences to the child's family.

Dozens of injured Palestinians have arrived in the UAE for urgent medical treatment, as part of Sheikh Mohamed's Operation Gallant Knight 3 to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Patients are being distributed across various specialist medical centres across the country.

A group of 77 patients – accompanied by 43 family members – were evacuated from Gaza and transported to the Emirates from Al Arish Airport in Egypt last week.

They landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport and were transported to local hospitals.

They are the fourth group of Gazans to arrive in the Emirates for treatment in the country's hospitals, with more expected in the coming weeks.

It comes as Sheikh Mohamed announced that the UAE would provide treatment for 1,000 injured Palestinian children and 1,000 cancer patients as part of the relief campaign.

The UAE has also opened a field hospital in Gaza, which started treating its first patients on Sunday.

The 150-bed hospital features several departments focused on caring for adults and children.

It will be used for general surgery, orthopaedics, children and women, anaesthesia and intensive care for children and women. It also offers clinics in internal medicine, dentistry, psychiatric treatment and family medicine.

Israel-Gaza war two months on – in pictures