A convoy of trucks was seen at the Rafah border crossing on Sunday morning, reinforcing the current ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. This development follows the reopening of the long-closed Rafah crossing with Egypt, which took place on Saturday, allowing thousands of Palestinians in dire need of medical assistance to finally leave Gaza.
Humanitarian efforts gain momentum
With crucial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, 37 patients—34 children and three adults—were successfully evacuated from Gaza to Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Saturday. Accompanying them were 39 relatives, all of whom are now able to access specialized medical care that has been sorely lacking in the war-torn region.
At the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, families prepared for their journey with the help of WHO teams. Among those waiting was Al-Ata Al-Najjar, mother to young Abdul, who is suffering from a suspected case of cystic fibrosis and a congenital heart defect. She expressed her relief, stating, ““I was very happy when I received the call about travelling for treatment. I felt relieved that my child, God willing, will get his treatment.”
Urgent calls for medical evacuations
This evacuation comes in response to the urgent appeals from the WHO to accelerate medical transfers for critically ill patients. Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the Palestinian territories, highlighted the gravity of the situation, estimating that between 12,000 and 14,000 patients in Gaza are in urgent need of evacuation for life-saving treatment. “This is just the start. We need to speed up the pace. What we need are medical corridors now outside Gaza,” he emphasized.
As the convoy approached Rafah, families took their final steps toward the crossing, with some in wheelchairs and others holding onto their loved ones. The WHO continues to push for expedited evacuation efforts, warning that without immediate intervention, many lives remain at risk.
The crossing had been shut down by Israeli forces in early May after they seized it during an offensive on southern Gaza, prompting Egypt to close its side in protest. Its reopening represents a significant breakthrough in the ceasefire agreement established earlier this month between Israel and Hamas.
Following Hamas’s release of the last remaining female hostages in Gaza, Israel agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing, which stands as Gaza’s only border entry that does not lead into Israel. Under the first phase of the six-week truce, 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel are set to be released, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, while humanitarian aid is expected to increase in the beleaguered enclave.
Next week, talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled to commence regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, focusing on securing the release of remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. Should an agreement not be reached, there is a looming threat of renewed conflict as early as March.