Rafah crossing set to reopen as thousands in Gaza seek medical evacuation

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is expected to reopen on Sunday, COGAT said, raising hopes among thousands of Palestinians who have been waiting to be evacuated for medical treatment outside the enclave. Among those waiting is Mohammed al-Ser, 27, who suffered a severe head injury in June and had his skull reconstructed but has not regained use of his left arm and leg.

When approached for comment on Mr. al-Ser’s account, the Israeli military said it had carried out a strike in that area in June targeting a Hamas operative. About 20,000 people need to be evacuated for treatment abroad, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Since the Rafah crossing closed in March, the World Health Organization said roughly 1,000 Palestinians have left Gaza for medical care by first crossing into Israel; those evacuations often required a third country to host patients and Israeli security clearance, the W.H.O.

said. COGAT said the crossing would open with only a “limited movement of people” in both directions. An Israeli security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Egypt would share lists of those wishing to cross and Israeli authorities would then approve or deny passage.

COGAT did not specify how many people would be allowed to enter and exit each day. The reopening was part of a cease-fire agreement reached in October; Israel had demanded the return of all living hostages and the remains of the deceased before allowing full passage.

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