As part of a cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has reopened, allowing the first evacuations of sick and wounded Palestinians on Saturday, ending a nine-month closure due to ongoing conflict.
On this first day of the crossing’s reopening, only 50 out of thousands of individuals requiring medical attention were able to leave, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Coverage of this significant event included live broadcasts showing ambulances transporting patients to Egypt, as noted by Al Qahera News, a state-owned Egyptian channel.
The crossing's prior closure, following Israel's invasion of Rafah last May, had strained Gaza's already crippled healthcare system. Reports indicate that the conflict has led to severe damage to local medical facilities, including the major Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. While Israel accuses Hamas of using medical institutions for military purposes, the militant group has denied these claims.
The cease-fire agreement outlines provisions for daily crossings, allowing 50 wounded individuals categorized as militants to exit Gaza after approval from Israeli and Egyptian authorities. Future expansions of the crossing’s capacity for both the ill and the passage of goods and trade are anticipated, although specifics regarding the timeline for these changes remain unspecified.
Experts like Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s top representative for Gaza and the West Bank, have welcomed the initial evacuations as a positive move but highlight the urgent need to expedite the process. Estimates suggest that between 12,000 to 14,000 individuals in Gaza require immediate treatment for severe conditions and chronic illnesses.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing has come about through a new security arrangement involving Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, a rival group to Hamas. Despite external pressure, Israeli officials have expressed reluctance to grant the Palestinian Authority control over post-war Gaza, suggesting that their involvement shall remain limited.
On this first day of the crossing’s reopening, only 50 out of thousands of individuals requiring medical attention were able to leave, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Coverage of this significant event included live broadcasts showing ambulances transporting patients to Egypt, as noted by Al Qahera News, a state-owned Egyptian channel.
The crossing's prior closure, following Israel's invasion of Rafah last May, had strained Gaza's already crippled healthcare system. Reports indicate that the conflict has led to severe damage to local medical facilities, including the major Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. While Israel accuses Hamas of using medical institutions for military purposes, the militant group has denied these claims.
The cease-fire agreement outlines provisions for daily crossings, allowing 50 wounded individuals categorized as militants to exit Gaza after approval from Israeli and Egyptian authorities. Future expansions of the crossing’s capacity for both the ill and the passage of goods and trade are anticipated, although specifics regarding the timeline for these changes remain unspecified.
Experts like Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s top representative for Gaza and the West Bank, have welcomed the initial evacuations as a positive move but highlight the urgent need to expedite the process. Estimates suggest that between 12,000 to 14,000 individuals in Gaza require immediate treatment for severe conditions and chronic illnesses.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing has come about through a new security arrangement involving Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, a rival group to Hamas. Despite external pressure, Israeli officials have expressed reluctance to grant the Palestinian Authority control over post-war Gaza, suggesting that their involvement shall remain limited.
