WHO says five Gaza patients evacuated through Rafah crossing on first day of reopening

The World Health Organization confirmed on Tuesday that five patients were medically evacuated from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Monday, marking the first day of its highly restricted reopening after nearly two years of closure. The crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt, was opened under strict Israeli controls for limited pedestrian movement, primarily for medical evacuations and pre-approved travelers.

Context of the Reopening

The partial reopening follows sustained international calls to allow critically ill Palestinians—including an estimated 4,000 children—to access lifesaving treatment unavailable in Gaza's devastated healthcare system. Israeli authorities have permitted a daily quota of 150 people to leave and 50 to enter, with all movements requiring prior Egyptian listing and Israeli security approval. Humanitarian aid trucks, however, remain barred from using the crossing.

Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

WHO officials and aid agencies have emphasized that the current scale of evacuations remains vastly insufficient given the enormous medical needs in Gaza. The healthcare system has been crippled by Israel’s military offensive, which has killed over 71,000 Palestinians, injured more than 171,000, and destroyed most medical infrastructure. The United Nations estimates reconstruction will cost approximately $70 billion.