Seven Injured Gaza Children Arrive in Switzerland for Specialized Medical Treatment

Humanitarian Operation Brings Injured Children to Switzerland

Seven injured children from the Gaza Strip, accompanied by 27 family members, arrived in Switzerland on Friday, October 24, 2025, to receive highly specialized medical care in Swiss hospitals. This humanitarian mission is a collaborative effort involving the Swiss Federal Government, various cantons, the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), and the Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.

Journey and Medical Care Details

The children, suffering from severe conflict-related injuries, were initially transferred from the Gaza Strip to Jordan. From Amman, they were flown to Switzerland aboard a combination of four Rega aircraft and two Swiss military aircraft. The planes landed at airports in Zurich, Geneva, and Lugano. Upon arrival, the children and their accompanying family members underwent security checks by federal authorities. They will be distributed across several Swiss regions, receiving treatment in university and cantonal hospitals in cantons including:

• Geneva
• Vaud
• Ticino
• Basel City
• Lucerne
• St Gallen

Two of the children will specifically receive care in St Gallen, with their accompanying family members accommodated in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The Swiss government has confirmed that all individuals will undergo an asylum procedure, guaranteeing them temporary residence and legal protection during their treatment and rehabilitation.

Broader Humanitarian Initiative

This arrival marks the initial phase of a larger humanitarian program. Switzerland plans to admit a total of approximately 20 injured children from Gaza for medical treatment. Preparations are already underway for a second evacuation, which will bring an additional 13 children and their accompanying persons to Switzerland. The WHO has registered a significant number of patients requiring evacuation from Gaza, including 4,000 children, many of whom are seriously injured and in urgent need of medical attention that cannot be adequately provided locally. The costs for coordination and transportation of these humanitarian flights are covered by the Swiss government, while medical expenses will be borne by the receiving cantons or the hospitals themselves.