Rafah Crossing Now Receiving Gaza Patients: Egyptian Authorities

Synopsis

The Rafah crossing, which connects Egypt to the Gaza Strip, is open to receive patients from Gaza, as confirmed by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer. The Palestinian Health Ministry announced the first group of patients will cross on Saturday, amidst ongoing humanitarian efforts and a ceasefire agreement involving hostage exchanges.

Key Takeaways

Rafah crossing is now operational for patients from Gaza.
Khaled Megawer, Governor of North Sinai, confirmed the opening.
The first group of sick individuals will depart on Saturday.
The process is coordinated with the World Health Organization.
Hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas are ongoing.

Cairo, Feb 1 (NationPress) The Rafah crossing, the sole route connecting Egypt with the Gaza Strip, is currently open and will commence the reception of patients from Gaza, as stated by the Governor of Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, Khaled Megawer.

The governor announced the crossing's opening earlier today via social media platform X, though he did not provide a specific time for the transit of Gazan patients.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the first group of ill and injured individuals will be permitted to exit the Palestinian enclave through the Rafah crossing on Saturday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

In an official statement, the ministry described this initiative as a component of urgent humanitarian efforts aimed at providing essential medical treatment to critically ill and injured patients outside the besieged area.

The ministry elaborated that the departure of these patients will be managed under the oversight of the World Health Organization and other relevant authorities.

Health officials indicated that the designated patients and their companions are expected to assemble at the Al-Shifa and Nasser medical complexes in Gaza prior to their transfer to the crossing.

Saturday will also mark another phase of hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement between the two parties.

The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Friday that it would release three Israeli hostages on Saturday. Concurrently, the Palestinian Prisoners Club stated that Israeli authorities will reciprocate by releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Additionally, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that they have received the list of three Israeli civilian hostages anticipated to be released from Hamas captivity on Saturday. The list includes Ofer Calderon, an Israeli-French citizen aged 54, Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American citizen aged 65, and Yarden Bibas, an Israeli civilian aged 35.

As part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement that has halted over 15 months of conflict, 33 hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza are expected to be released during the first six weeks of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Since the ceasefire was enacted on January 19, Hamas has released 15 captives, including five Thai workers, while 400 Palestinian detainees have been exchanged so far.