Gaza’s sole border crossing with Egypt, Rafah, serves as a vital lifeline for thousands of Palestinians, including severely ill and injured patients requiring medical treatment outside the enclave. The crossing reopened in a limited capacity amid the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but recent reports of violence, including Israeli airstrikes, have left residents and aid organizations navigating “competing dynamics” of hope and fear. Sam Rose, Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, noted that while the reopening offers relief, civilians continue to face major constraints, leaving many in Gaza with “massive trepidation” about the future.
The reopening of Rafah is part of a broader peace plan and coordinated with Egypt, with supervision by the European Union. For now, Israel allows only about 50 Palestinians to cross per day, on foot, and only those who left during the war and have prior authorization. Returnees are screened by the EU and Israeli security before reaching designated corridors under Israeli control. The UN has emphasized that civilians must be allowed to leave and return safely, while agencies like UNDP are providing transport and reception support at hospitals, including psychological care, food, information, and internet access.
Medical evacuations are underway, with the World Health Organization assisting patients. Some patients leave Gaza directly through Rafah, while others transit via the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing. Only a small number of approved patients can travel at a time, leaving thousands still waiting for essential medical care. Families, including children like Youssef Awad and Ahmed Iyad Abu al-Khair, hope to access treatment abroad, but long delays persist, with more than 18,500 patients, including 4,000 children, still awaiting referral. Protests by injured Palestinians near hospitals reflect the urgent demand to increase the daily number of travelers.
Humanitarian aid is also moving through Rafah, though restrictions remain. Between 23–29 January, 13,800 pallets of aid were delivered, including food, shelter items, school supplies, health items, fuel, and nutrition kits. Since the ceasefire on 10 October, 272,000 pallets of humanitarian goods have been unloaded, and 270,000 collected, underscoring the critical role of Rafah in both lifesaving medical access and ongoing humanitarian support in Gaza.
