For the first time in nearly nine months, the Rafah border crossing has reopened, allowing Palestinian patients from Gaza to travel to Egypt for medical treatment. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that 50 patients and 61 carers crossed into Egypt on Saturday.
Many of these patients suffer from chronic conditions such as cancer. They had been unable to receive treatment due to the ongoing conflict. Egyptian television showed Palestinian Red Cross ambulances arriving at the crossing. Some children were transferred from stretchers to ambulances on the Egyptian side.
The opening of the crossing follows a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel on January 19. As part of this deal, 400 Palestinians are allowed to leave Gaza. The reopening strengthens the agreement, especially after Hamas released the last surviving female captives.
The timing also coincided with Hamas releasing three Israeli captives in exchange for over 180 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Concerns over the scope of medical evacuations
Mohammed Zaqout, Director of Hospitals at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said that over 6,000 patients are ready to evacuate. At least 12,000 others urgently need treatment. However, the number of patients allowed to leave is insufficient. Zaqout hopes more patients will be evacuated soon.
Arwa Damon, the founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA), described the difficult process of evacuating 2,500 Palestinian children needing life-saving medical care. Parents or guardians apply for medical evacuation. The Health Ministry reviews each case, categorising them by urgency.
The next step involves coordination with Israel to clear the names. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also plays a vital role in facilitating the evacuation process.
Damon explained that this process is often slow and painful. Unfortunately, it does not provide medical care for everyone who needs it.
Impact of the conflict on Gaza’s healthcare system
The 15-month conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, has devastated Gaza’s healthcare sector. Many hospitals have closed, and thousands of Palestinians have suffered from a lack of medical care.
Israel closed the Rafah crossing in May 2024 after taking control. Egypt then shut its side in protest. Before the conflict, Palestinians relied on the crossing to access treatments, including chemotherapy, that were unavailable in Gaza.
Managing the crossing has been complicated. Israel accuses Hamas of using it to smuggle weapons, a claim Egypt denies. Israel also refuses to allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to manage the crossing. Instead, Palestinians who worked as border officers with the PA will staff the crossing, but without official PA insignia.
The European Union will send monitors to oversee the crossing, just as they did before 2007. Their role will be to support the Palestinian staff and help transfer patients who need medical care out of Gaza.
