The reopening of the Rafah border crossing marks a significant moment for sick and wounded Palestinians, as 37 individuals, including children, leave Gaza for essential medical treatment in Egypt after eight months of closure due to the ongoing conflict and prior Israeli control.**
Rafah Crossing Reopens as the First Sick and Wounded Palestinians Leave Gaza for Treatment**
Rafah Crossing Reopens as the First Sick and Wounded Palestinians Leave Gaza for Treatment**
Following a long closure, the Rafah crossing has reopened, allowing Palestinians in need of medical care to seek treatment in Egypt amidst ongoing conflict.**
Thirty-seven sick and wounded individuals have successfully crossed from Gaza into Egypt as the Rafah border crossing reopened after an eight-month closure. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that among those who made the journey for medical care were 34 children and three adults, accompanied by 39 family members. This reopening is part of a recent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The border crossing had been shut following heightened tensions and the capture of the Gaza side by Israeli forces in May 2022.
Footage captured by the news media highlighted the harrowing situation faced by many evacuees, with scenes of Palestinian children being transported via stretchers and ambulances. Mai Khader Abdul Ghani expressed her relief that her son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, who suffers from a rare autoimmune condition, would finally receive the medical treatment he desperately needs after lingering for three months in severe pain at Gaza's Nasser Hospital.
Others sharing similar distressing stories included Mohammed Abu Jalala, who spoke about his niece Lara, who sustained severe injuries leading to the amputation of one of her feet after a bombing that claimed her family's lives. "The other foot is still injured and needs treatment, and the amputation itself requires follow-up medical care," he detailed.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for the West Bank and Gaza, provided insight into the evacuation's execution, noting that it was conducted in a careful and measured manner, prioritizing non-walking patients. He estimated that an alarming 14,000 individuals in Gaza are currently in dire need of treatment, with half suffering from injuries related to the ongoing conflict.
As part of efforts to monitor crossings and facilitate medical transfers, the European Union announced Wednesday the deployment of a monitoring mission at the Rafah crossing. The need for medical care has reached critical levels during the ongoing military offensive, which has reportedly led to over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, as stated by the health ministry run by Hamas.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing coincides with a prisoner exchange deal where Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees while receiving back three Israeli hostages as a continuation of peace negotiations initiated after the recent ceasefire began on January 19.
