Five to ten Palestinians are dying every day as they await medical evacuation from the decimated enclave, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the official in charge of evacuating the wounded and patients at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said yesterday.

He explained that the number of patients with kidney failure has decreased from 1,150 before the war to fewer than 700 at present, as approximately 40 per cent of the patients died due to Israeli travel restrictions and the lack of adequate medical services.

Medical sources reported the death of a Palestinian from Rafah, in southern Gaza, yesterday after he succumbed to injuries sustained a few days ago.

Hamdan Qishta, a player for Khadamat Rafah Club, was also pronounced dead after succumbing to wounds he sustained days earlier in southern Rafah.