Rafah Crossing Reopens for Two-Way Movement of Patients and Civilians

Limited Reopening of Rafah Crossing Eases Movement Amid Ongoing Controls

Gaza: Patients, wounded individuals, and civilians began crossing into Egypt today as stranded Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip, following the reopening of the Rafah land border crossing for two-way movement under continued Israeli security controls.

According to official Palestinian sources, the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza reopened today to facilitate the movement of patients, the wounded, and citizens with humanitarian needs for the first time in several weeks.

The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported that approximately 150 patients and their companions, who had been prepared since early morning, crossed through Rafah to receive medical treatment in hospitals outside the Gaza Strip. At the same time, a number of Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of the crossing began returning to Gaza.

Despite the reopening, movement through the crossing remains subject to strict scrutiny. Citizens expressed cautious hope that procedures would proceed smoothly, while noting potential obstacles imposed by Israeli occupation authorities, who maintain a military checkpoint and inspection point adjacent to the crossing to screen returning individuals and their belongings.

Regarding patient evacuations, a source from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that, as of Monday, there had been “no new developments” concerning additional patient transfers via Rafah. The source explained that another group of patients is expected to depart the Strip through the Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is fully controlled by Israeli occupation forces.

In parallel, another source confirmed that several Gaza residents had arrived on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing and were preparing to enter the Gaza Strip later today.

The partial reopening of the Rafah crossing represents a limited yet significant step toward easing the humanitarian crisis facing the besieged Gaza Strip.