Thirty-seven sick and wounded Palestinians have successfully exited Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, seeking necessary medical treatment after a closure that lasted eight months. This reopening is part of a ceasefire and hostage agreement brokered between Hamas and Israel. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the group included 34 children and three adults, joined by 39 companions.
The Rafah border crossing, a vital access point for Gazans, had been closed since Israeli forces took control of the crossing from the Gaza side in May of the previous year. Recent footage shows the challenges faced by evacuees, with many children transported on stretchers. Mai Khader Abdul Ghani, whose son suffers from a rare autoimmune disease, expressed immense relief that her son was allowed to receive treatment after a period of intense suffering.
The young patient reported several debilitating symptoms, including severe pain and difficulty in movement, which were exacerbated while awaiting transfer to a medical facility in Egypt. Another evacuee, Mohammed Abu Jalala, shared his plight and described the trauma faced by his niece, who suffered serious injuries following a bombing that took the lives of her parents and siblings. He recounted the unfortunate necessity of amputation due to infections, emphasizing the following need for continued medical care.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO's representative for the region, characterized the evacuation process as "orderly" and "slow," emphasizing the careful attention given to the non-walking patients ahead of those able to travel unassisted. He noted that an estimated 14,000 Gazans are in urgent need of medical care unavailable within the region, with half of these individuals suffering from war-related injuries and the other half from chronic health conditions. Alarmingly, about 5,000 of those patients are children.
In parallel to the medical evacuations, news has emerged from the European Union, whose foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced the deployment of a monitoring mission at the border. This initiative aims to assist Palestinian border personnel in managing the transfer of individuals needing medical assistance.
The Rafah crossing is the southernmost exit point from Gaza, with only two additional crossings available: Erez, designated primarily for individuals into Israel, and Kerem Shalom, an entry solely for commercial goods. The humanitarian crisis remains dire, with estimates from the Hamas-run health ministry indicating that over 47,000 Palestinians have died since the onset of the Israeli military offensive targeting Gaza. This offensive was initiated following a deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties among Israeli civilians and subsequent hostages taken back to Gaza.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing aligns with a recent agreement related to a series of hostage releases and prisoner swaps that began on January 19, effectively marking a complex interplay of humanitarian needs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict.
