Egypt reopens Rafah crossing for Palestinians seeking health care: officials

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Egypt reopens Rafah crossing for Palestinians seeking health care: officials

2025-02-02 19:25 Last Updated At：02-03 15:57

Egypt is ready to receive injured or sick Palestinians who are entering the country for health care through the Rafah crossing, which resumed operation on Saturday, according to the country's officials.

Since May 2024, the Palestinian side of the crossing has been controlled by Israel, which had blocked its operation until the recent ceasefire agreement.

Starting Saturday, the Rafah crossing has allowed Palestinians to exit Gaza for the first time in nine months, but currently, only those who are injured or sick are permitted to leave.

On the first day of reopening, around 37 Palestinians managed to cross, along with eight prisoners released from Israel as part of the hostage exchange on the same day.

International monitors had arrived at the Palestinian side of the crossing prior to its reopening to oversee the process.

Khaled Megawer, Governor of North Sinai in Egypt, said that the country is ready to accommodate the Palestinians.

"The Egyptian side was already 100 percent [ready], the Palestinian side has lots of damage and it needs to be rebuilt. And I think within days it finished and it's ready, there is some people from the Palestinian authority accompanied with some people from the EU to control the Palestinian side," he said.

The Rafah crossing is now operating in one direction, allowing only Palestinians to come out of Gaza. During this period, it is exclusively dedicated to those in critical health conditions or severely injured, requiring advanced medical care.

Palestinians who have managed to flee Gaza during the conflict are not yet allowed to return to the enclave via the crossing.

The first batch of Palestinians arriving in Egypt will be hospitalized in North Sinai.

As the ceasefire agreement proceeds, Egypt is shifting its focus toward addressing the future of the Palestinian crisis.

"What is next? How are we going to solve that conflict? Because it was extended since 1948 and the military action will not gain anything. It just lost people, injured people and [doing] damage for buildings everywhere. So I think we as an international society have to think seriously about the next step," said Megawer.

The Rafah crossing has been a key gateway for delivering relief supplies donated by Egypt, other countries and international organizations to the war-torn Gaza.

On Jan 19, the Rafah crossing was reopened from the Egyptian side as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. It resumed operation on Saturday after the fourth batch of the first phase of the prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal between the two sides.

Thousands protest across Greece against war in Iran

Thousands of people took to the streets in dozens of protests across Greece on Saturday to voice their opposition to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The demonstrations were organized by a range of groups, including left-wing political parties, student associations, labor unions, migrant community organizations and non-governmental organizations, as the conflict has entered its second month.

In Athens, the main rally began outside the parliament building and marched to the U.S. Embassy. Protesters called for an immediate end to the conflict, urging Greece to stay out of the war and prioritize public spending on health and education over defense.

Holding up banners reading "No interference in Iran's affairs", "No war, return peace to the people" and "No deployment of Greek troops to the Middle East", and the flags of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, protesters chanted slogans against the war to protest against the military actions of the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Israel's moves towards Palestine and Lebanon.

"We're here to protest against the war, to protest against what the U.S. and Israel are doing in the whole west Asian area. Of course, it (the military operation) is against international law," said Torres, a protester.

The month-long U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has resulted in heavy casualties on all sides. Iranian deaths are estimated at over 1,900, with over 24,800 injured, while at least 19 Israeli and 13 U.S. military fatalities have been reported.

As the war drags on, it is sending shockwaves across the geopolitical and economic landscape, driving up oil prices, rattling international markets, and weighing on the global economy.