Amman: The King Hussein Bridge border crossing has become a "symbol of hope" for Palestinians fleeing devastation of daily airstrikes in Gaza, offering a lifeline to others suffering critical illnesses amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
According to Jordan News Agency, for many, the facility is more than a crossing, as it is the beginning of healing and survival, made possible by Jordan's "Corridor of Hope" initiative. Among arrivals on Thursday were a 70-year-old Maha Al-Alami and her daughter Ola, both battling cancer. Unable to access proper treatment in Gaza due to a crippling shortage of medical supplies and the destruction of health infrastructure, they hailed their transfer to Jordan as a miracle.
With gratitude, the duo prayed for His Majesty King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein, whose directives made their evacuation to the King Hussein Cancer Center possible. "The equipment and medicine we needed simply no longer existed in Gaza. Our health was deteriorating every day," they told "Petra," adding that "But King Abdullah gave us a chance to live."
Jordan, they said, has become the "only" safe haven for Palestinians seeking medical care and dignity under the pressures of occupation and siege. Yousef Salha, the father of a 15-year-old boy suffering from vision impairment due to a brain cyst, expressed similar appreciation, stating "The Corridor of Hope has given my son the chance to see again. In Gaza, that was impossible."
Sama's mother shared that her daughter, diagnosed with a brain tumor, had been closely monitored by Jordanian medical committees even before her arrival. Lack of diagnostic equipment and surgical capacity in Gaza made her daughter's case increasingly dire. Now in Jordan, she awaits treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Center with renewed hope.
The mother praised Jordan's sustained humanitarian efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, as a "source of strength" for the Palestinian people during their time of immense suffering. On Wednesday, Jordan Armed Forces (JAF)- Arab Army conducted the second medical evacuation under the initiative, transferring four cancer-stricken children from Gaza along with 12 family members.
The evacuees were received at the King Hussein Bridge, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization and flown by the Royal Jordanian Air Force to Marka Airport ahead of their transfer to the cancer center. The operation, which is part of the second phase of the Corridor of Hope initiative, aims to evacuate 2,000 sick children from Gaza for treatment in Jordan.
The move reflects Jordan's "unwavering" humanitarian commitment to the Palestinian people and its regional leadership in providing critical care amid crises.