Israel reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt after nearly three weeks to allow a limited group of wounded Palestinians—eight patients and 17 family members—into Egypt for medical treatment. Sources say the move followed Cairo talks between Hamas and envoys from President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" to bolster a fragile ceasefire. Local officials reported renewed airstrikes in Gaza City that killed at least four people, and Gaza’s health ministry says nearly 680 people have died from Israeli fire since the October ceasefire.
Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing to Evacuate Wounded as Truce Shows Strain
Palestinians sit in a bus as they get ready to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after it was opened by Israel on Thursday for a limited number of people, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
CAIRO — Israel reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Thursday after nearly three weeks, allowing a small number of wounded Palestinians to cross into Egypt for medical treatment amid renewed reports of deadly strikes in Gaza.
A UN vehicle leads ambulances carrying war-wounded people and patients who leave Gaza, for treatment abroad, through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after it was opened by Israel on Thursday for a limited number of people, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the authorities permitted eight Palestinians who were injured in Israeli attacks during the two‑year war, together with 17 family members, to enter Egypt for care when the terminal resumed limited operations. Officials did not specify how many of those allowed to leave would later be permitted to return to Gaza.
Palestinians sit in a bus as they get ready to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after it was opened by Israel on Thursday for a limited number of people, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Sources told Reuters that the decision to open the border followed talks in Cairo between Hamas officials and envoys from President Donald Trump’s so‑called "Board of Peace," a move aimed at shoring up a fragile Gaza ceasefire that has come under pressure since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
A UN worker looks on next to a vehicle as Palestinians get ready to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, after it was opened by Israel on Thursday for a limited number of people, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
The Rafah terminal had previously been reopened in early February after being largely closed since May 2024, providing only limited relief for Palestinians seeking medical evacuation or to return after fleeing fighting earlier in the conflict.
VIOLENCE STAINS TRUCE DEAL
Residents, medics and analysts said Israeli attacks in Gaza eased for a period after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, but the pace of strikes has increased again more recently.
Local health officials reported that two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Thursday killed at least four Palestinians and wounded others. There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.
Gaza’s health ministry says nearly 680 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the October ceasefire. Israel has said militants killed four of its soldiers during the same period. Both sides have traded blame for truce violations, leaving the ceasefire under strain and humanitarian needs unresolved.
Reporting: Nidal al‑Mughrabi; Editing: Pooja Desai
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