CAIRO: Gaza's border crossing with Egypt reopened on Thursday for a limited number of people, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said, for the first time since Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran. An Egyptian Red Crescent official, speaking anonymously, said the Rafah crossing had reopened in both directions to allow a "limited movement" of Palestinian patients entering Egypt and stranded Palestinians returning to Gaza.
A Palestinian official from the border crossings committee said that eight wounded Palestinians and 17 companions had left the devastated enclave for the Egyptian side.
Al Qahera News, close to Egyptian intelligence, aired images of a small group of Palestinians, including patients treated in Egypt, preparing to re-enter Gaza. Several ambulances were also seen waiting to receive patients arriving from the enclave. Israel had announced earlier this week that Rafah would reopen on Wednesday, but that did not materialise.
For many sick and injured Gazans, Rafah has been a crucial route to medical care in Egypt and one of the few means for separated families to reunite. But despite its reopening last month, only small numbers of Palestinians have been allowed through. — AFP
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