A group of 50 sick and injured Palestinian children crossed into Egypt for medical treatment through the Rafah crossing on Saturday. This marked the first time the border has opened since Israel took control of it nearly nine months ago.
The opening of the Rafah crossing is considered a key development supporting the ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month between Israel and Hamas. The reopening came after Hamas released the last living female hostages held in Gaza, prompting Israel to allow the crossing to open.
Egyptian television footage showed Palestinian Red Cross ambulances arriving at the crossing. Several children were seen being transported on gurneys and quickly taken to hospitals in the nearby Egyptian city of el-Arish. Among those was a young girl who had lost her foot and was loaded into an ambulance for urgent care.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, about 60 family members accompanied the children. This group is part of what is expected to become a regular evacuation process for Palestinians seeking medical treatment abroad. Over the last 15 months, Israeli actions in response to a militant attack on southern Israel in October 2023 have severely impacted Gaza’s health care system, leaving many hospitals inoperable. Reports indicate that over 110,000 Palestinians were injured during the conflict.
With medical facilities overwhelmed, Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, stated that over 6,000 patients are ready to be evacuated, and more than 12,000 urgently need treatment. He expressed hope that the number of evacuations would increase in the future.
The Rafah crossing is the only one out of Gaza that does not border Israel. Israeli forces closed the crossing in early May during an offensive in southern Gaza, which also led to Egypt halting passage from its side. The Rafah crossing has long been a vital route for Palestinians seeking escape from the blockade that has severely limited access to essential medical services.
Reopening the crossing required delicate diplomacy amid security concerns involving Israeli, Egyptian, and Palestinian authorities. Hamas has overseen the Gaza border since 2007 when it took control from the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Israeli troops continue to monitor the Rafah crossing, and the management of the crossing has been a point of contention. Israel has concerns over potential weapon smuggling by Hamas through tunnels, while Egypt insists it has eliminated such activities on its side. Israel has also expressed reluctance to allow the PA to take control of the crossing.
Instead, the crossing will be managed by Palestinians from Gaza who previously worked as border officers with the PA but will not be permitted to showcase any official PA symbols. European Union monitors will also oversee the crossing’s operations, similar to arrangements prior to 2007.
Discussions regarding the next steps in the ceasefire agreement, including a potential full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the status of remaining hostages, are set to begin soon. Israel remains cautious about the PA potentially governing post-conflict Gaza.
