Only five Palestinian patients and seven accompanying persons crossed from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on the first day of the two-way reopening of the Rafah border crossing, located on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. The crossing, closed by Israel in 2024, reopened after nearly two years, despite an initial daily cap of 50 people.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said around 45 patients and 90 companions are en route to Rafah for urgent medical evacuation. Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely damaged since October 7, 2023, with an estimated 22,000 injured and ill people needing treatment abroad.