So far, the Rafah border crossing has been opened primarily for the delivery of relief supplies. Now, for the first time, injured Palestinians have been able to cross the Genze to be treated in Egypt.
For the first time since the Gaza war began on October 7, injured Palestinians crossed the border into Egypt for treatment in hospitals there. The first ambulances left the Rafah border crossing and took patients to the hospital in the town of Al-Arish, as shown in images from the state-affiliated television channel Al-Kahira News. The Egyptian Red Crescent confirmed the arrival of three patients in Al-Arish.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, no treatment of the injured has been possible in Egypt. The opening of the Rafah crossing and who is allowed to pass through it is strictly regulated. The crossing has so far been used primarily to deliver relief goods.
Field hospital in Egypt
Egypt has already built a field hospital to treat Palestinian wounded. It is located behind a state hospital in the town of Sheikh Suwaid, about 15 kilometers from the Rafah crossing. According to reports, it has at least 300 beds.
Al-Kaira News reported that Egypt was ready to receive about 80 wounded people who will be treated in Sheikh Suwaid and in the coastal town of Al-Arish. Abdel Nasser of the Egyptian Red Crescent said transfers to other specialized hospitals were also possible, including in Cairo.
Foreign nationals probably shortly before leaving the country
For the first time since the Gaza war began on October 7th, a group of foreign nationals and Palestinians with second passports are about to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt. A first group of them is in the transit area of the Rafah border crossing, said Raed Abdel Nasser, Secretary General of the Egyptian Red Crescent in North Sinai, to the German Press Agency. They were waiting in the Palestinian part of the crossing to complete their formalities to enter Egypt.
More than 500 foreigners and Palestinians with other nationalities are planned to leave the country. There are no hostages among the people leaving who, according to the Israeli army, were kidnapped from Israel to the Gaza Strip in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th. There are also several Germans among those abducted.
According to eyewitnesses, around 50 foreign nationals, including Americans and Canadians, gathered at the border on Wednesday. According to the Egyptian Red Crescent, nationals from Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria as well as Japan, Australia and Indonesia are also taking part. People from the regional neighboring countries of Egypt, Jordan and Algeria would also be waiting to leave the country.
There was initially no official confirmation about a possible border opening for civilians. It also remained unclear when the border would close again if it were opened.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
