Rafah Reopens for 5 Patients as 20,000 Await Care, 900 Already Dead
Only a handful of sick and wounded Palestinians were allowed through the Rafah crossing on its first day of partial reopening, exposing the tight Israeli control imposed after more than 20 months of closure.
Although officials initially spoke of around 200 movements, Israel permitted the exit of just five patients, each accompanied by two relatives, while dozens were delayed or blocked by Israeli security checks and ambulances waited for hours at the border.
The limited reopening comes as around 20,000 Palestinians urgently need medical evacuation, including over 11,000 cancer patients, with Gaza’s healthcare system devastated by Israeli attacks, including the destruction of the Strip’s only specialized cancer hospital.
The World Health Organization says 900 patients have already died while waiting to leave Gaza, and Palestinian health officials report 4,000 patients with official referrals remain unable to cross.
Palestinian authorities stress that Rafah’s operation under Israeli control remains symbolic rather than humanitarian, allowing only a fraction of those in need to escape Gaza’s ongoing siege and bombardment.
