Sema Fonkem 03 Feb 2026

Israel has began giving permission to sick and wounded Palestinians to seek medical care in Egypt by reopening the Rafah crossing which was seized by Israeli troops in May 2024.

Reports reaching Critique Africa is that approximately 35 people have been allowed to enter Egypt so far. The processs of clearance is very slow due to thorough security checks being carried out by Israeli forces. Each patient given permission to cross the border can be accompanied by two relatives or care givers.

According to Gaza health officials, there are about 20,000 persons including adults and children who are looking forward to enter Egypt for medical care via the Rafah crossing.

Israel claim it had taken over the Rafah crossing during the escalation of the conflict to prevent the smuggling of weapons by Hamas. This move led to the area becoming isolated with trade, movement and access to healthcare being completely cut off.

The Rafah crossing which is now open is only a temporary solution through an Israeli-Egyptian joint effort to assist thousands of sick and wounded Palestinians who need urgent medical attention.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 900 persons including cancer patients and children have died while awaiting medical evacuation since the border opened and closed during ceasefire in 2025.

The reopening of Rafah border will also give a chance to some of the 100,000 Palestinians who fled to Egypt during the early phase of the conflict to reunite with their love ones.

Reopening of the Rafah crossing is a major success in the Jared Kushner’s led brokered ceasefire agreement which had seen the successful exchange of war prisoners between Israel and Palestine during in its first phase.

Besides to the temporal ceasefire with reduced airstrikes, it is reported that heavy storms and floods have also caused the death and displacement of many people in Gaza.