Gaza Herald – Israeli occupation partially reopened the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza on Thursday to allow a limited group of Palestinian patients and their companions to leave for medical treatment, as well as the return of stranded individuals, following 19 days of closure due to the Israeli-American war on Iran.
A small number of patients and their escorts left the Red Crescent headquarters in Khan Younis, heading to the Rafah departures hall to receive treatment abroad.
Earlier Thursday, Gaza’s crossings authority announced that the partial reopening would permit the departure of 8 patients accompanied by 17 companions for medical care outside the Strip.
Previously, the Israeli army had announced a reopening of Rafah for limited passenger movement starting Wednesday but later reversed the decision on Thursday morning.
The Israeli occupation had closed all crossings in Gaza, including the Karm Abu Salem commercial crossing and Rafah border crossing with Egypt, on 28 February, coinciding with the start of the Israeli-American attack on Iran.
The closure halted the entry of humanitarian and medical aid and prevented patients and the injured from leaving for medical treatment abroad.
Rafah was partially reopened in early February 2026, allowing the exit and return of Palestinian patients and injured individuals under Israeli security conditions, as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement implemented in October 2025.
