UAE’s Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 Sustains Gaza’s Health Sector
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates, through its large-scale humanitarian initiative Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, has played a decisive role in preventing the collapse of the Gaza Strip’s health sector, ensuring the continuity of critical medical services for the Palestinian people amid ongoing crises.
Demonstrating rapid response capabilities and high-level professionalism, the UAE has maintained a sustained medical presence in Gaza and neighboring regions. Its intervention includes the operation of a fully equipped field hospital within Gaza, the deployment of a floating hospital off Egypt’s Al Arish coast, the transfer of critical cases to hospitals in the UAE, and the delivery of continuous medical aid and equipment.
Since its launch in December 2023, the Emirati integrated field hospital in Gaza has treated over 51,000 patients as of April 2025, providing services for critical injuries and complex surgeries. Staffed by specialized Emirati and international medical professionals and supported by volunteers, the hospital offers treatment across various disciplines, including surgical, orthopedic, and emergency care.
Notably, the facility initiated a humanitarian prosthetics program for amputees, aiming to rehabilitate injured Palestinians and help them regain their mobility and independence. The hospital, with a capacity of 200 beds, also achieved significant medical milestones, including the successful removal of a 5-kilogram tumor from a long-suffering patient.
In February 2024, the UAE expanded its humanitarian reach by sending an integrated floating hospital to the Mediterranean waters near Al Arish, Egypt. The facility, equipped with 100 beds, operating theatres, intensive care units, diagnostic imaging, laboratories, and pharmacies, had treated over 10,370 patients by April 2025. The medical team includes specialists in general surgery, orthopedics, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine.
Complementing its field operations, the UAE has also facilitated the medical evacuation and treatment of Palestinian patients. Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE pledged to treat 1,000 Palestinian cancer patients and 1,000 children along with their families. As of May 14, 2,634 individuals had been brought to the UAE for comprehensive care, reflecting the country’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
Medical supplies remain a core component of the UAE’s relief efforts. Since the beginning of the crisis, the Emirates has delivered over 1,200 tonnes of medical materials to Gaza’s health facilities. These supplies include dialysis machines, ventilators, ultrasound devices, ambulances, wheelchairs, and respiratory support systems. In total, 17 modern ambulances have been added to the Gaza health infrastructure.
A mass polio vaccination campaign, reaching more than 640,000 children, was implemented as part of the UAE’s preventative healthcare measures to shield future generations from infectious diseases.
In parallel, Dubai Humanitarian, between January 1 and April 24, 2025, dispatched three major relief shipments carrying approximately 256 metric tonnes of World Health Organization medical supplies to Al Arish International Airport for onward delivery to Gaza.
Further contributing to public health and environmental safety, the UAE continues to implement projects aimed at providing clean drinking water and rehabilitating sewage systems in Gaza. These initiatives are vital to controlling pollution and preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
After 500 days of continuous operation, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 stands as a testament to the UAE’s deep humanitarian commitment and its strategic efforts to preserve human life and dignity in Gaza amid an ongoing humanitarian emergency.
