The vital Rafah border crossing, Gaza’s sole exit point bypassing Israel, resumed operations Monday, though only five critically ill Palestinian patients were allowed to cross into Egypt for medical care, medical sources informed Al Jazeera. This reopening was stipulated under the recent ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States intended to halt the conflict that began in October.
Egyptian officials had initially projected that approximately 50 Palestinians would transit in each direction on the first day of the crossing’s renewed activity. However, reports from Khan Younis indicated that the low throughput was directly attributable to stringent and time-consuming security screening protocols enforced by Israeli authorities.
Ambulances carrying wounded and sick individuals waited for several hours before the first patients received clearance to cross the border, which occurred after sunset, according to Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground. The crossing, which Israel seized control of in May 2024, had previously served as a crucial route for patients requiring specialized care outside the Palestinian territory.
Security monitoring at the crossing will involve European teams, specifically the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), which will administer the Palestinian side and submit departure lists for vetting to Egyptian counterparts. Israeli security officials confirmed the arrival of these monitoring teams, Reuters reported.
For individuals entering Gaza from Egypt, the Israeli military has established a security checkpoint named “Regavim” outside the immediate border zone under its control. Soldiers at this location verify identities against intelligence-approved lists and conduct thorough searches of travelers’ personal effects, according to statements published on the Israeli military’s website.
While the reopening offers a measure of hope for family reunification and medical access, observers note the process remains heavily restricted and selective due to the pervasive Israeli security measures. Thousands of Palestinians still require urgent medical attention abroad, a need that was severely exacerbated by the crossing’s prolonged closure.
Egypt has prepared infrastructure, including making about 150 hospitals available to receive evacuated patients and establishing support centers via the Egyptian Red Crescent on its side of the border. This logistical readiness contrasts sharply with the limited actual flow of people permitted across the threshold on the first day.
