Rafah border crossing to open for wounded Palestinians, Health Ministry confirms VIDEO

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will open to allow the first batch of wounded Palestinians to leave the enclave, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed.

This development follows a statement by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer, who announced the crossing would open on January 31 to transport injured individuals once preparations on the Palestinian side were complete, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Governor Megawer also stated that aid trucks will continue to enter Gaza via the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, with supplies being redirected to the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana crossings. The Egyptian Health Ministry is prepared to receive the wounded through Rafah, although the exact number of people leaving Gaza on the first day was not specified.

The Rafah crossing has been closed since May 2024, following Israel’s ground offensive in Rafah. The opening of the crossing is a significant development in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as it allows for the evacuation of critically injured individuals. The operation is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The crossing’s reopening comes amid a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel, which went into effect on January 19, 2025. The ceasefire, lasting 42 days, is part of ongoing negotiations for subsequent phases of the deal, with Egypt and Qatar facilitating the process, and the United States providing support.

Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 47,400 Palestinian deaths, the majority of which are women and children. More than 111,000 people have been injured, and thousands are still missing, as the region faces one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in recent history. The destruction in Gaza has led to widespread devastation, with many elderly and vulnerable individuals suffering amid the ongoing conflict.

In response to these events, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in Gaza.

استعداداً لنقل المصابين إلى المستشفيات.. وصول عدد من سيارات الإسعاف إلى الجانب المصري من معبر رفح#غزة #معبر_رفح #العربية pic.twitter.com/k3fI9iCCYb

— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) February 1, 2025

By Vafa Guliyeva