Rafah: A new group of Palestinians returning to the Gaza Strip arrived at the main square of the Rafah land crossing on the Egyptian side, in preparation for their return to Gaza.

According to State Information Service Egypt, sources at the crossing indicated that a team from the Egyptian Red Crescent received the returning Palestinians at the Rafah crossing. The team is facilitating procedures in coordination with the relevant authorities, distributing meals, water, and juice, and providing sweets and chocolate to children. Psychological support is also being offered to the arrivals.

Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities are preparing to receive the eighth group of wounded and sick Palestinians from the Gaza Strip for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. The Ministry of Health has established a medical point at the Rafah crossing to examine the arrivals, classify cases, and transfer them to hospitals via equipped ambulances.

The Rafah land crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip was reopened in both directions the Monday before last to allow the movement of Palestinians between Egypt and Gaza. However, Israel reclosed it from the Palestinian side on Friday and Saturday due to the weekly holiday, and it was reopened again last Sunday.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing followed the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire and was influenced by Egyptian-American pressure after the Israeli occupation had closed the crossing from the Palestinian side in May 2024. Over the past few days, seven groups of Palestinians have departed to return to the Gaza Strip, while Egypt has received a number of wounded and sick Palestinians for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

The Egyptian Red Crescent is providing an integrated system of humanitarian services inside the Rafah crossing, including psychological support, especially for children affected by the war.