Limited Reopening of Rafah Crossing Allows Sick, Wounded Palestinians to Seek Medical Care in Egypt
Limited Reopening of Rafah Crossing Allows Sick, Wounded Palestinians to Seek Medical Care in Egypt
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After more than 20 months of closure, Israel has allowed a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing, enabling sick and injured Palestinians to travel to Egypt for medical treatment amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the conflict in Gaza.
According to The Guardian, approximately 150 Palestinians were scheduled to leave Gaza on Monday, while 50 were to enter. Ambulances waited for hours at the crossing before transporting patients after sunset. The crossing, Gaza’s only exit not controlled by Israel, had been closed since May 2024, briefly opening in early 2025 during a ceasefire for medical evacuations.
Health authorities in Gaza estimate that around 20,000 people, including children and adults, require urgent medical care, and thousands more wish to travel in and out of the territory. Among those in need are over 11,000 cancer patients, following the destruction of Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital in March 2025. The World Health Organization reports that 900 patients, including children, have died while awaiting evacuation, and Médecins Sans Frontières notes that more than one in five registered patients are minors.
The partial reopening is subject to joint Israeli-Egyptian security screening, with only a small number of patients allowed to leave each day. Families separated by the conflict also view the crossing as an opportunity to reunite after more than two years of displacement.
Despite the reopening, life in Gaza remains precarious. Airstrikes have slowed but continue intermittently, with at least 32 people, including children, killed in recent strikes. Since the ceasefire began in October, Israeli forces have killed at least 509 Palestinians and wounded 1,405, including hundreds of children. Foreign journalists are still barred from entering Gaza, limiting independent reporting on the humanitarian situation.
