First medical evacuee from Gaza enters Egypt, marking key step in ceasefire with Israel, but limited access remains
A Palestinian patient was transported by ambulance across the Rafah border crossing into Egypt on Monday, marking a significant development in the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The first medical evacuee to leave Gaza since the crossing reopened has entered Egypt after Israeli troops seized it in May 2024.
The move represents a key step towards re-establishing life-saving medical care for thousands of Palestinians in need of treatment in Gaza. About 20,000 children and adults require evacuation through the crossing, according to health officials.
However, the limited access to the crossing has sparked criticism that it is more symbolic than substantive, with many Palestinians unable to cross into Egypt or exit the territory due to Israeli restrictions. No goods will be allowed to pass through, AP reported.
Gaza's humanitarian crisis deepens as thousands of people struggle to access vital medical care. The World Health Organization has warned that winter conditions in Gaza, coupled with inadequate water and sanitation facilities, are contributing to an increase in acute respiratory infections, including severe cases requiring intensive care.
Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the US remain high, with Iranian leaders increasingly worried about a potential US strike that could break their grip on power. Six current and former officials have briefed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the concerns, highlighting the need for urgent action to prevent widespread protests.
In related news, Israel has announced it will suspend Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) operations in Gaza after the humanitarian organization refused to hand over personal details of its staff members to Israeli authorities. MSF slammed the move as a "pretext" to restrict aid.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the Palestinian technocratic committee is set to return to the territory later this week. The group, which has 12 members, has been meeting in Cairo after being unveiled last month.
A Palestinian patient was transported by ambulance across the Rafah border crossing into Egypt on Monday, marking a significant development in the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The first medical evacuee to leave Gaza since the crossing reopened has entered Egypt after Israeli troops seized it in May 2024.
The move represents a key step towards re-establishing life-saving medical care for thousands of Palestinians in need of treatment in Gaza. About 20,000 children and adults require evacuation through the crossing, according to health officials.
However, the limited access to the crossing has sparked criticism that it is more symbolic than substantive, with many Palestinians unable to cross into Egypt or exit the territory due to Israeli restrictions. No goods will be allowed to pass through, AP reported.
Gaza's humanitarian crisis deepens as thousands of people struggle to access vital medical care. The World Health Organization has warned that winter conditions in Gaza, coupled with inadequate water and sanitation facilities, are contributing to an increase in acute respiratory infections, including severe cases requiring intensive care.
Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the US remain high, with Iranian leaders increasingly worried about a potential US strike that could break their grip on power. Six current and former officials have briefed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the concerns, highlighting the need for urgent action to prevent widespread protests.
In related news, Israel has announced it will suspend Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) operations in Gaza after the humanitarian organization refused to hand over personal details of its staff members to Israeli authorities. MSF slammed the move as a "pretext" to restrict aid.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the Palestinian technocratic committee is set to return to the territory later this week. The group, which has 12 members, has been meeting in Cairo after being unveiled last month.
like whats the point of having a ceasefire if ppl cant even move thru the border? its all so symbolic rn 
gotta feel for those people who need med attention ASAP tho 
Egypt's reopening of its border crossing with Gaza might be a small step towards easing tensions but what's really needed is more concrete efforts to address the humanitarian crisis 
. Thousands of people need life-saving medical care and it's not just about evacuees, but also about getting essential goods in 
meanwhile msf is just tryin to do their job but israel is makin it super hard for them 
hope this ceasefire thing actually sticks and ppl can start gettin the care they deserve 
This ceasefire thingy is all well and good, but let's not forget who's really pulling the strings here. I mean, have you seen the access restrictions? It's like they're trying to control the narrative. If it was just about getting medical aid to those in need, wouldn't we see some actual movement through that crossing? But nope, it's all about optics and appearances. And what's with the MSF situation? Aren't we talking about human rights here? 
. What I'd love to see is more concrete measures being taken by all parties involved to ensure sustainable aid delivery and meaningful reforms 
...
A medical evacuee finally made it out, yay! Meanwhile, thousands of people are still stuck there with no access to proper medical care. It's like, super convenient that only 20,000 people need help, right? 
And now they're just going to let them all leave whenever Israel decides... I mean, who needs a reliable ceasefire when you've got humanitarian crises, am I right? 
and oh yeah MSF got shut down too 
. 20,000 people are waiting for medical care and its crazy that they're not getting it 
.
it's like they're playing a super high-stakes game of geopolitical chess, while Gaza just suffers in the middle. We need some real solutions here, not just temporary fixes 
It's like, a medical evacuee is making it out of there... yay! 
I mean, what's next? No Facebook or Instagram for Gazans?! 
.
and btw, msf just got kicked out of israel for refusing to give personal info to the gov... like, can't we just have some decent aid flowin' into gaza already?!