Gaza border post reopens but just 12 Palestinians pass through
Ambulances stand at the Rafah border crossing, ready to accept patients. (Ali Mustafa/Getty Images)
Rafah reopens to a near standstill as only a handful of Palestinians are allowed out of besieged Gaza, according to The New Arab plus agencies via AFP and Al-Qahera News on February 3rd.
The long-awaited reopening of the Rafah border crossing has brought only minimal movement for Palestinians in Gaza, with just a small group permitted to leave on the first day, despite mounting international pressure to ease humanitarian access.
On February 2nd, only a limited number of injured Palestinians and their companions were allowed to cross into Egypt. A source on the Egyptian side confirmed that “Five injured people and seven companions” were able to pass through the crossing, reflecting the strict controls still governing departures. Egyptian border officials said that the daily quota had been set at 50 patients, each accompanied by two companions, yet the actual number that crossed remained far below this ceiling.
The partial reopening comes as part of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s truce plan for Gaza, which is intended to facilitate humanitarian relief after two years of relentless war. However, aid organisations warn that the slow pace of evacuations offers little relief to a population facing collapsing healthcare services, shortages of medicine, and rising civilian casualties.
Egyptian authorities have moved to prepare for a larger influx of patients. Health officials said that three ambulances arrived at the crossing carrying Palestinian patients, who were immediately screened upon arrival to assess their medical needs and determine hospital placement. Egypt’s health ministry has placed a vast medical network on standby to receive those transferred from Gaza. According to the announcement, 150 hospitals and 300 ambulances have been readied across the country. It also stated that 12,000 doctors and 30 rapid deployment teams have been assigned to support emergency treatment and patient transfers.
As Rafah resumes operations under heavy restrictions, humanitarian groups continue to urge for wider and faster access, warning that limited crossings will do little to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The New Arab plus agencies via AFP and Al-Qahera, Maghrebi.org
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