UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO/GAZA - Around 1,092 patients in the Gaza Strip died while awaiting medical evacuation between July 2024 and Nov 28, 2025, Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, citing Gaza's health authorities.

Peeperkorn said the figure is likely underreported and not fully representative, as it is based solely on reported deaths.

"WHO called on more countries to welcome patients from Gaza, and for medical evacuation to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored," he said.

According to Peeperkorn, 18 out of 36 hospitals and 43 precent of primary health care centers in Gaza were partially functioning, and there was a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies needed for heart disease treatment, among others.

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He said that although approval rates for supplies into Gaza had improved, the process of getting medicines and medical equipment into Gaza remained "unnecessarily slow and complex".

Noting that WHO continues to face challenges in bringing laboratory reagents and critical lab machine components into Gaza, as many items were denied entry due to being classified as dual use, Peeperkorn called on Israeli authorities to give "a blanket approval" for medical supplies to enter Gaza "so urgent needs can be addressed".

'Peace efforts must lead to Palestinian statehood'

On Friday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron affirmed that the current peace efforts over Gaza must lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

During a phone conversation, the two leaders agreed that the current efforts must be followed by the launch of a comprehensive political process that results in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi stressed the necessity of solidifying the ceasefire in Gaza and moving on to implementing the second phase of the peace plan.

The call also touched on the developments in the West Bank, with Sisi affirming Egypt's rejection of the Israeli violations, stressing the need to support the Palestinian people, increase international pressure to stop these violations, and support the Palestinian Authority.

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For his part, Macron expressed his appreciation for the important role played by Egypt in achieving regional stability, especially in solidifying the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, according to the statement.

Several Western countries, including France and Britain, moved to formally recognize the state of Palestine at the height of the Israeli military operation in Gaza earlier this year.

At least 14 killed in Gaza amid winter storms

Separately, at least 14 people were killed in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours as homes collapsed and tents sheltering displaced families were flooded during a powerful winter storm, Gaza's Civil Defense said on Friday.

The fatalities included three children who died from hypothermia, while others were found under the rubble of homes destroyed by heavy rain and strong winds, particularly in Gaza City and northern areas of the enclave, the Civil Defense said.

Rescue teams responded to 13 collapsed or partially collapsed houses, saving 52 people and moving them to safer locations. Search operations are ongoing after more than 15 homes were damaged across the territory.