Gaza’s Rafah Border Reopens as Sick and Wounded Children Evacuate to Egypt for Urgent Medical Care
Rafah, Gaza – February 1, 2025 – In a significant breakthrough, 50 critically ill and wounded Palestinian children crossed from Gaza into Egypt on Saturday, marking the first medical evacuations through the Rafah border since Israel seized control of the crossing nearly nine months ago.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing follows a ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas last month. Israel agreed to facilitate medical evacuations after Hamas released the last living female hostages it had been holding in Gaza.
Desperate Need for Medical Care Amidst Gaza’s Collapsing Health System
Gaza’s health infrastructure has been in a state of collapse following Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which began in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Over the past 15 months, relentless bombardments and ground operations have left more than 110,000 Palestinians wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
With most hospitals now non-operational, critical surgeries and specialized treatments for injuries and chronic diseases are nearly impossible. Mohammed Zaqout, director of hospitals in Gaza’s Health Ministry, revealed that over 6,000 patients were awaiting evacuation abroad, while more than 12,000 were in dire need of urgent medical treatment.
“The small number of evacuations will not meet the overwhelming demand,” Zaqout stated. “We hope the numbers will increase.”
First Evacuations Under Strict Security Measures
Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera television broadcast footage of Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances transporting children through the border. The young patients, some on gurneys, were transferred to Egyptian ambulances, which rushed them to hospitals in the nearby city of el-Arish and other medical facilities across Egypt. One child, seen on video, had suffered an amputation.
By Saturday evening, Gaza Health Ministry official Zaher al-Wahidi confirmed that at least 37 children had successfully crossed into Egypt, accompanied by approximately 60 family members.
These evacuations are expected to become a regular process, offering a lifeline to patients who have no access to essential treatments in Gaza.
Rafah Crossing: A Diplomatic and Security Battleground
The Rafah crossing—Gaza’s only border not leading into Israel—had served as a critical gateway for medical and humanitarian aid before the war. However, Israel seized control of the crossing in early May during an offensive on Rafah, prompting Egypt to shut its side in protest.
The border’s reopening required intense diplomatic negotiations between Israel, Egypt, and Palestinian representatives. Hamas had previously managed the crossing since 2007, after taking control of Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel has long accused Hamas of using the border for weapons smuggling, despite Egypt’s claims that it destroyed all smuggling tunnels years ago.
Israel remains firm in its stance against allowing Hamas to resume control of the crossing. It has also rejected the prospect of the Palestinian Authority officially managing Rafah. Instead, a team of Palestinian officers—who previously worked under the PA but without official PA insignia—will staff the border. These officers have undergone Israeli screening to ensure no affiliations with Hamas, according to a European diplomat familiar with the arrangement.
Additionally, European Union monitors, who previously supervised the crossing before Hamas’ takeover in 2007, will once again be present.
Ceasefire Talks and the Future of Gaza
The reopening of the border comes amid ongoing negotiations regarding the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. Talks are set to resume Monday, focusing on a potential permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of any remaining hostages.
However, Israel continues to resist the idea of the Palestinian Authority assuming control over postwar Gaza, leaving the region’s long-term governance uncertain.
As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, the resumption of medical evacuations through Rafah offers a rare glimmer of hope for the most vulnerable victims of the conflict. However, with thousands still in urgent need of care, many are calling for an expansion of evacuation efforts to prevent further loss of life.
Source : Swifteradio.com
