Palestinians allowed to pass through reopened Rafah border crossing in Gaza

Rafah Crossing Reopens with Limited Access

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Monday after 18 months of closure. The move was intended to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but it has been met with disappointment due to strict security restrictions and a complex bureaucratic process.

Only five patients were allowed to leave Gaza for medical treatment abroad, while 12 people were permitted to return home. This fell short of the 50 people Israeli officials had promised would be permitted to move in each direction. The crossing’s reopening was delayed by an extensive security clearance process set by the Israeli military.

The restrictions imposed at the crossing include a requirement that only individuals who left Gaza during the war are allowed re-entry through Rafah after undergoing security clearance. This has left many patients waiting for medical treatment, with estimates suggesting 20,000 children and adults in dire need of care.

Ambulances queued for hours at the border on Monday, ready to ferry Palestinian patients across the border. The United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Tom Fletcher, described the partial reopening as insufficient, emphasizing that the border post must function as a genuine humanitarian corridor to deliver life-saving aid.

Qatar welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing as “a step in the right direction,” but urged Israel to fully implement the deal to ensure sustainable and unhindered access. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the situation remains dire, with many lives at risk due to the ongoing blockade.

Source: Al Jazeera