Rafah Crossing Reopens for Sick and Wounded Palestinians Seeking Medical Care

The reopening of Gaza's Rafah border crossing marks a significant moment for many ill and injured Palestinians who have long awaited medical care unavailable in their territory.

In a pivotal development, the Rafah border crossing has been reopened after an eight-month hiatus due to ongoing conflict, providing a crucial pathway for sick and wounded Palestinians to seek medical attention in Egypt. According to a report from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, around fifty patients, including young ones suffering from serious illnesses like cancer, have already made their way into Egypt for treatment. The crossing had been shuttered following Israeli forces assuming control of the Gaza side in May 2022, making this reopening particularly significant against the backdrop of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

Photographs depicting bedridden children in ambulances arriving at the border illustrate the urgency of their situations. One mother, Mai Khader Abdul Ghani, expressed her gratitude that her son, suffering from a rare autoimmune condition, was finally allowed to leave Gaza for necessary medical care. He had been enduring intense pain for months due to a lack of available treatment options in Gaza, which have been severely limited by the ongoing closure of crossings and the substantial shortage of medicines.

Another poignant story came from Mohammed Abu Jalala, whose niece sustained severe foot injuries during an airstrike that also claimed the lives of her parents and siblings. He disclosed that doctors had to amputate one of her feet due to gangrene while the other remains injured and in need of further treatment.

Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, representing the World Health Organization (WHO) for the region, described the evacuation process as being conducted in a measured manner, emphasizing the attention given to the non-walking patients first, followed by those able to walk alongside their companions. He mentioned that an estimated 14,000 people in Gaza are in dire need of medical treatment, half of whom suffer from war-related injuries, with the other half contending with chronic illnesses. This crisis disproportionately affects children, with expectations that approximately 5,000 of those needing assistance are minors.

The European Union, recognizing the urgent humanitarian need, has deployed a monitoring mission at the crossing to facilitate patient transfers. As the southernmost exit point from Gaza, Rafah is one of only three crossings, with the others being Erez and Kerem Shalom, the latter intended solely for commercial goods.

The harrowing backdrop of the conflict highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where over 47,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives due to Israel's military offensive. This escalation was initiated after the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas's attacks led to significant casualties and hostages being taken back to Gaza.

Further emphasizing the humanitarian dimensions of the ongoing conflict, Israel and Hamas recently completed their fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners since the ceasefire agreement was enacted on January 19, with Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian detainees in return for the safe release of three Israeli hostages.