The Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border has reopened, allowing critically ill Palestinians access to medical treatment in Egypt amidst ongoing tensions between Hamas and Israel.**
Rafah Crossing Reopens to Evacuate Palestinian Patients Amid Ceasefire Agreement**
Rafah Crossing Reopens to Evacuate Palestinian Patients Amid Ceasefire Agreement**
Significant humanitarian effort as sick and wounded Palestinians cross into Egypt for medical care following border reopening.**
**The Rafah border crossing, the primary outlet for Gaza residents seeking medical attention, has been reopened after a prolonged closure of eight months. This critical development permits sick and wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza for necessary healthcare services in Egypt. The Hamas health ministry reported that fifty patients, including children suffering from severe illnesses, have already crossed into Egypt. The reopening coincides with a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Hamas and Israeli forces that has seen increased humanitarian efforts.
Photographs captured at the border depict heart-wrenching scenes of children being wheeled in stretchers and transported via ambulances. One mother, Mai Khader Abdul Ghani, expressed her relief and hopes for her son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, who has been battling a rare autoimmune disease. He had been undergoing intensive care at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, where medication shortages and healthcare limitations have exacerbated his suffering. “I hope that his suffering comes to an end after receiving the appropriate treatment,” she articulated during an emotional interview.
Another evacuee, Mohammed Abu Jalala, shared the struggles of his niece, Lara Abu Jalala, a survivor of a bombing that claimed her family's lives. Her feet sustained grave injuries, necessitating amputation, and she urgently requires follow-up treatments.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, representing the World Health Organization (WHO) for the region, described the patient evacuation process as methodical, prioritizing those who are non-ambulatory, followed by those who can walk. He highlighted that about 14,000 individuals in Gaza require medical treatment unavailable locally, with an estimated half of them needing urgent care due to war-related injuries, while the remainder suffers from chronic illnesses. Of those in need, approximately 5,000 are children.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the EU had deployed a monitoring team to assist with the crossing management. The Rafah crossing serves as the southernmost exit for those seeking refuge or medical assistance. Following a military offensive that has reportedly resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian fatalities, the reopening came alongside the latest of several hostage releases and exchanges between Israel and Hamas, continuing to build on fragile agreements in a tumultuous region.**
Photographs captured at the border depict heart-wrenching scenes of children being wheeled in stretchers and transported via ambulances. One mother, Mai Khader Abdul Ghani, expressed her relief and hopes for her son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, who has been battling a rare autoimmune disease. He had been undergoing intensive care at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, where medication shortages and healthcare limitations have exacerbated his suffering. “I hope that his suffering comes to an end after receiving the appropriate treatment,” she articulated during an emotional interview.
Another evacuee, Mohammed Abu Jalala, shared the struggles of his niece, Lara Abu Jalala, a survivor of a bombing that claimed her family's lives. Her feet sustained grave injuries, necessitating amputation, and she urgently requires follow-up treatments.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, representing the World Health Organization (WHO) for the region, described the patient evacuation process as methodical, prioritizing those who are non-ambulatory, followed by those who can walk. He highlighted that about 14,000 individuals in Gaza require medical treatment unavailable locally, with an estimated half of them needing urgent care due to war-related injuries, while the remainder suffers from chronic illnesses. Of those in need, approximately 5,000 are children.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the EU had deployed a monitoring team to assist with the crossing management. The Rafah crossing serves as the southernmost exit for those seeking refuge or medical assistance. Following a military offensive that has reportedly resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian fatalities, the reopening came alongside the latest of several hostage releases and exchanges between Israel and Hamas, continuing to build on fragile agreements in a tumultuous region.**
