Gaza Herald – Thirty-six Palestinians arrived overnight at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis as part of the 16th group of returnees entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt, amid a mix of relief and exhaustion.
The arrivals reportedly endured lengthy interrogations and strict Israeli procedures at the crossing, leaving many physically and emotionally drained.
Palestinian families gathered with visible emotion, particularly ahead of Ramadan. Returnees described the journey as arduous, shaped by prolonged separation and uncertainty. Some had been apart from loved ones for nearly two years, while others returned carrying the trauma of injuries and the loss of family members during the genocide.
Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing on February 2 under tight restrictions, following its closure in May 2024 during the military incursion into Rafah. Gaza authorities said Israeli forces continued to impose obstacles on travel in both directions and failed to comply with agreed passenger quotas under the October 10, 2025 ceasefire terms.
Before October 7, 2023, hundreds of Palestinians crossed Rafah daily in routine movement regulated by Gaza’s Interior Ministry and Egyptian authorities without direct Israeli involvement. Since the genocide began, Israel killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured over 171,000, according to Gaza health officials, with widespread destruction affecting approximately 90% of civilian infrastructure.
