Egypt’s Rafah crossing reopened after nearly nine months, allowing sick and wounded Palestinian children to cross into Egypt for treatment. The move is a significant breakthrough in the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which agreed to reopen the crossing in exchange for the release of female hostages.
The first group of 50 children arrived on Saturday, with many more awaiting evacuation. Health officials say thousands of Palestinians need such medical evacuations, and the World Health Organization has urged expedited access through all possible routes.
The closure of Rafah was part of Israel’s campaign against Hamas in retaliation for an October 2023 attack on southern Israel. The campaign has decimated Gaza’s health sector, leaving hospitals unable to perform many treatments or surgeries.
Egypt had previously shut down its side of the passage in protest, but has now allowed it to reopen. Palestinians will be staffed at the crossing by officers from Gaza who served with the Palestinian Authority before being screened for affiliation with Hamas.
The move bolsters the ceasefire deal and sets a precedent for regular medical evacuations through the crossing. The European Union monitors the situation, and negotiations on a permanent ceasefire are set to begin Monday.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-rafah-ceasefire-egypt-children-7330b0f2a30855cd5ae69b5a32b218df