Gaza Border Reopens, 150 Patients Cross Into Egypt

Mahmud can finally get the leukemia treatment that could save his life. The 38-year-old from Gaza City was among the first patients to cross into Egypt on Monday after the Rafah border crossing partially reopened for the first time in nearly two years.

Around 150 sick and wounded Palestinians left Gaza on the reopening's first day, with ambulances immediately transferring them to Egyptian hospitals. The crossing had been shut since Israeli forces closed it in May 2024, leaving thousands of patients trapped without access to specialized medical care.

"In Gaza, there is no treatment and no life," Mahmud told reporters as he prepared to cross with his sister. His words reflect the reality facing 20,000 patients in urgent need of treatment, including 4,500 children.

The Rafah crossing is Gaza's only gateway to the outside world that doesn't lead through Israel. Its closure cut off a lifeline for both people and humanitarian supplies.

Egypt prepared an extraordinary welcome for the arriving patients. The country mobilized 150 hospitals, 300 ambulances, 12,000 doctors, and 30 rapid deployment teams to ensure everyone receives immediate care.

Abdul Rahim Mohamed waited at the crossing for a reunion 10 months in the making. His mother left for cancer treatment in Egypt in March 2024 and was finally cleared to return home. "I am very happy today. I will hug my mother," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The reopening came after months of appeals from humanitarian groups and signals progress in the fragile ceasefire agreement that began in October. While the crossing currently operates only six hours daily during this pilot phase, it represents a crucial first step.

Ali Shaath, head of a Palestinian committee overseeing Gaza's governance, called Rafah's reopening a "window of hope" for the territory. European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas echoed this sentiment, describing it as "a concrete and positive step in the peace plan."

For now, the crossing focuses solely on medical cases, with patients and their companions able to travel in both directions. The hope is that successful operation will lead to expanded access for humanitarian aid and other civilians in the coming weeks.

Every patient who crosses represents a life that now has a fighting chance.