At least 22 injured and sick people from the Gaza Strip crossed into Egypt on Thursday through the Rafah border crossing, which connects the Palestinian enclave to the Sinai Peninsula. This marks the first time since May of the previous year that the crossing was reopened, following Israel’s occupation of the area.

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In addition to the patients, another 16 companions entered Egyptian territory, according to a brief statement from Egypt’s press center, which did not specify the identities or ages of the individuals.

Furthermore, 181 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza via the Al Awja crossing (located about 40 kilometers south of Rafah) and the Kerem Shalom crossing, which connects Gaza to Israel. Among the trucks, 8 carried fuel, which is vital for distributing aid throughout Gaza and for the operation of bakeries and other essential services.

The Rafah crossing was reopened on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which went into effect on January 19.

Since the reopening, around 300 individuals, including wounded people and their companions, have entered Egypt to receive medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals and those in other Arab countries. However, no one crossed on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 12,000 Gazans need to be evacuated for medical treatment, including complex surgeries for injuries sustained during the war, as well as cancer patients.

Since the war began in October 2023, and before the ceasefire came into effect, nearly 5,400 patients were evacuated, the majority before the Rafah crossing was closed, with only about 400 patients evacuated through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, according to WHO figures.

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