50 Gaza patients exit through Rafah crossing to Egypt as border opens under ceasefire

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza confirmed that 50 Palestinian patients crossed into Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Saturday, marking the reopening of the key gateway as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel.

Egyptian state-linked broadcaster Al-Qahera News aired footage of the first evacuees, accompanied by 53 companions, making their way into Egypt for medical treatment. Among them was a child suffering from an autoimmune disease.

"From the medical files, 50 were approved by Egypt. We hope for this number to increase," said Muhammad Zaqout, director of Gaza hospitals. "We now have 6,000 cases ready to be transferred, and more than 12,000 cases that are in dire need of treatment."

The Rafah crossing had remained closed since May when Israel seized its Palestinian side.

It has long served as a crucial passage for humanitarian aid and movement in and out of the blockaded territory.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Friday that the EU had deployed a monitoring mission at Rafah "at the request of the Palestinians and the Israelis." The mission aims to support Palestinian border personnel and facilitate medical evacuations.

The reopening coincided with the fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effect on January 19.

Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for over 180 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

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