Palestinian patients leave Gaza through Rafah crossing under Israeli screening

The first group of wounded and ill Palestinians crossed from the Gaza Strip into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing on Monday, Palestinian sources said, marking an initial step in the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The evacuation, however, was limited by Israeli security procedures, reported Xinhua.

Sources told Xinhua that five patients, accompanied by 10 relatives or caregivers, were allowed to leave, far fewer than the 50 initially planned for the first day. The departures were delayed for several hours due to Israeli screening checks.

Atef al-Hout, director of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, said only five names were approved from a list of 27 patients submitted for travel, and noted there was little clarity on how approvals were being processed or the timelines involved.

While the agreement allows for two-way movement, no Palestinians have yet returned to Gaza through the crossing from Egypt.

On the Egyptian side, preparations were extensive. North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer said hospitals and logistical teams were ready to receive patients, with a daily capacity of 50. Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Health, said a plan involving 150 hospitals is in place for the first phase, supported by 250 to 300 fully equipped ambulances. Hospitals are prepared to provide medical, surgical, and therapeutic care to incoming cases.

The Egyptian Red Crescent deployed teams to provide humanitarian and medical support at the crossing. Hospitals in El Arish, North Sinai, were placed on high alert, with intensive care units and operating theaters ready to receive evacuees.

Efforts also began to facilitate the return of Palestinians stranded in Egypt. About 50 people arrived at the crossing on Egyptian buses, according to eyewitnesses. Their return is being coordinated by Egyptian authorities, the Palestinian Authority, and the European Union Border Assistance Mission. Palestinian officials estimate that roughly 80,000 people remain waiting for permission to return.

The movement follows the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only outlet not controlled by Israel. The terminal had been largely closed since Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side in May 2024, worsening the humanitarian crisis for Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

The crossing reopened on a trial basis on Sunday before expanding operations on Monday under the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Under the current arrangement, roughly 150 Palestinians may exit Gaza daily, while up to 50 may enter from Egypt.

The reopening is seen as a key test for the ceasefire's stability. Mediators hope the renewed access will allow broader humanitarian aid and offer relief to a population enduring more than 18 months of near-total isolation.