Israel says Gaza’s Rafah crossing ready to resume operations on Monday in limited pilot phase, as thousands of sick and wounded Palestinians wait for urgent medical care abroad.
The Israeli military agency controlling aid to Gaza announced on Sunday that it will reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt, but only for Gaza residents traveling on foot. The operation is set to be coordinated with Egypt and the European Union. A complex has been built at the crossing to serve as a screening facility for Palestinians.
Rafah is the only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel, but it was seized by Israeli forces in 2024 during their conflict with Gaza. The crossing's reopening marks an "uncomfortable dynamic" according to Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud, who noted that Palestinians want to leave for medical care or education but are worried they won't be able to return.
About 80,000 Palestinians who left Gaza during the war are seeking to return, and an estimated 22,000 wounded and sick individuals need treatment abroad. Egyptian officials reported that up to 50 Palestinian patients will be processed on Sunday to cross into Egypt for treatment, with around 200 people expected to transit daily in both directions.
Reopening the crossing was a key requirement of the US ceasefire plan, but violence has repeatedly disrupted it. On Sunday, Israeli forces carried out attacks across Gaza, killing at least three people. The Israeli government announced that it will terminate the humanitarian operations of Doctors Without Borders due to its failure to provide lists of Palestinian staff, citing concerns over aid organisation transparency.
Critics argue that Israel's actions are part of a broader strategy to target the Palestinian healthcare system and create dependency on international aid.
The Israeli military agency controlling aid to Gaza announced on Sunday that it will reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt, but only for Gaza residents traveling on foot. The operation is set to be coordinated with Egypt and the European Union. A complex has been built at the crossing to serve as a screening facility for Palestinians.
Rafah is the only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel, but it was seized by Israeli forces in 2024 during their conflict with Gaza. The crossing's reopening marks an "uncomfortable dynamic" according to Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud, who noted that Palestinians want to leave for medical care or education but are worried they won't be able to return.
About 80,000 Palestinians who left Gaza during the war are seeking to return, and an estimated 22,000 wounded and sick individuals need treatment abroad. Egyptian officials reported that up to 50 Palestinian patients will be processed on Sunday to cross into Egypt for treatment, with around 200 people expected to transit daily in both directions.
Reopening the crossing was a key requirement of the US ceasefire plan, but violence has repeatedly disrupted it. On Sunday, Israeli forces carried out attacks across Gaza, killing at least three people. The Israeli government announced that it will terminate the humanitarian operations of Doctors Without Borders due to its failure to provide lists of Palestinian staff, citing concerns over aid organisation transparency.
Critics argue that Israel's actions are part of a broader strategy to target the Palestinian healthcare system and create dependency on international aid.