In the wake of ongoing humanitarian crises, the Rafah border crossing has resumed operations, enabling sick and wounded Palestinians, including children, to access essential medical treatment in Egypt amid a complex backdrop of conflict and negotiations.
**Rafah Crossing Reopens for Sick and Wounded Palestinians Seeking Treatment**
**Rafah Crossing Reopens for Sick and Wounded Palestinians Seeking Treatment**
Gaza's vital link to Egypt has reopened after months, allowing critical medical evacuations for those in urgent need.
The Rafah border crossing, crucial for the movement of people and goods, has finally reopened after being closed for eight months, allowing sick and wounded Palestinians to cross into Egypt for medical care. In a significant development reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, fifty patients, including children battling cancer, were able to enter Egypt to receive necessary treatment. The crossing had been closed since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side in May 2022.
This reopening is part of a larger ceasefire and hostage deal negotiated between Hamas and Israel. Footage capturing the evacuations has shown Palestinian children being transported on stretchers and in ambulances toward the border crossing. “We have been waiting for this day impatiently,” expressed Mai Khader Abdul Ghani to BBC Arabic's Gaza Today. Her son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, suffers from a rare autoimmune disease and had been in intensive care at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, battling severe pain due to the lack of available treatment options in the territory.
The limited healthcare infrastructure in Gaza has left many patients like Moatasem unable to access the necessary medications and treatments, with both missile strikes and border closures exacerbating the crisis. Moatasem described his suffering: “I have severe difficulty moving, my mouth has ulcers, and I also have difficulty eating, drinking, and everything.”
The medical evacuation also highlights the plight of those severely injured due to the ongoing conflict. Mohammed Abu Jalala recounted the traumatic experiences of his niece, Lara, who sustained dangerous foot injuries from bombings that led to the loss of her parents and three brothers. Despite attempts to avoid amputation, the situation worsened, necessitating urgent medical intervention.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, characterized the evacuation process as “orderly” yet “slow,” noting the delicate nature of handling both non-walking and walking patients. He emphasized the dire situation for approximately 14,000 patients in Gaza needing medical attention, with half of these injuries related to warfare and trauma, while the other half suffer from chronic health conditions. Alarmingly, around 5,000 of those patients are children.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the deployment of a monitoring mission at the Rafah crossing to assist Palestinian personnel in facilitating the medical evacuations. The Rafah crossing serves as the southernmost outlet for Gaza, with only two other crossings available: The Erez crossing into Israel and Kerem Shalom, a commercial goods junction.
The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as the Hamas-run health ministry reports that more than 47,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli military offenses, which were intensified following a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023. The reopening of Rafah aligns with the ongoing negotiations, marking the fourth hostage release and prisoner exchange since the ceasefire commenced on January 19, involving the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three Israeli hostages.
This reopening is part of a larger ceasefire and hostage deal negotiated between Hamas and Israel. Footage capturing the evacuations has shown Palestinian children being transported on stretchers and in ambulances toward the border crossing. “We have been waiting for this day impatiently,” expressed Mai Khader Abdul Ghani to BBC Arabic's Gaza Today. Her son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, suffers from a rare autoimmune disease and had been in intensive care at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, battling severe pain due to the lack of available treatment options in the territory.
The limited healthcare infrastructure in Gaza has left many patients like Moatasem unable to access the necessary medications and treatments, with both missile strikes and border closures exacerbating the crisis. Moatasem described his suffering: “I have severe difficulty moving, my mouth has ulcers, and I also have difficulty eating, drinking, and everything.”
The medical evacuation also highlights the plight of those severely injured due to the ongoing conflict. Mohammed Abu Jalala recounted the traumatic experiences of his niece, Lara, who sustained dangerous foot injuries from bombings that led to the loss of her parents and three brothers. Despite attempts to avoid amputation, the situation worsened, necessitating urgent medical intervention.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, characterized the evacuation process as “orderly” yet “slow,” noting the delicate nature of handling both non-walking and walking patients. He emphasized the dire situation for approximately 14,000 patients in Gaza needing medical attention, with half of these injuries related to warfare and trauma, while the other half suffer from chronic health conditions. Alarmingly, around 5,000 of those patients are children.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the deployment of a monitoring mission at the Rafah crossing to assist Palestinian personnel in facilitating the medical evacuations. The Rafah crossing serves as the southernmost outlet for Gaza, with only two other crossings available: The Erez crossing into Israel and Kerem Shalom, a commercial goods junction.
The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as the Hamas-run health ministry reports that more than 47,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli military offenses, which were intensified following a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023. The reopening of Rafah aligns with the ongoing negotiations, marking the fourth hostage release and prisoner exchange since the ceasefire commenced on January 19, involving the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three Israeli hostages.
