North Sinai governor says Rafah crossing to open soon for Gaza wounded
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The governor of Northern Sinai reveals that the Rafah crossing would open within days for Egypt to receive wounded individuals from Gaza for treatment.
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An Egyptian policeman stands in front of trucks of humanitarian aid at a parking point in Cairo, Egypt, as they wait to travel to cross the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 (AP)
North Sinai Governor Khaled Mojawer announced that the Rafah border crossing will reopen in the coming days to receive injured and sick Palestinians for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.
Speaking at a press conference near the Rafah crossing during his visit on Tuesday, Mojawer stated that "the Egyptian side of the crossing is 1000% ready," while the Palestinian side will be operational within days, as repair works are underway following damage caused during the Israeli war on Gaza.
He noted that a European Union delegation would monitor the crossing on the Palestinian side in coordination with Palestinian authorities, whereas the Egyptian side would remain under full Egyptian control.
In parallel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty confirmed that the Rafah crossing will soon resume operations once the necessary preparations are complete on the Palestinian side, with the presence of EU monitors.
During an interview with Cairo News Channel on Monday evening, Abdel-Aty highlighted that "humanitarian and medical aid deliveries are progressing well, exceeding the agreed rate of 600 trucks daily." He added that while the Egyptian side is ready, extensive damage caused by Israeli strikes on the Palestinian side of the crossing requires time for repairs.
90% of Gaza wiped out
Gaza's Government Media Office stressed on Monday that 135,000 tents and caravans are urgently and immediately needed in the Gaza and northern provinces.
In an official statement, the government revealed that the Israeli destruction of Gaza impacted 90% of its infrastructure, calling on the international community, as well as international organizations and Arab nations to open crossings and deliver the essential necessities to shelter the Palestinian people.
Thousands of Palestinians have begun their return to Gaza City and northern Gaza through the Netzarim crossing in the central district.
At exactly 9:00 am on Monday, displaced Palestinians were allowed to return to the northern area in vehicles, which will be searched, through Salah al-Din Street.
Thousands had spent their last two nights outdoors on al-Rashid and Salah al-Din streets, despite the piercing cold, waiting for the Israeli occupation forces to allow them to return to their homes after months of forced displacement to the south.
Hamas hailed the return of the Palestinian people to their neighborhoods and homes as a victory for the people and a declaration of the defeat of the occupation and its plots for displacement.
In a statement released on the occasion, the Resistance stressed that the scenes of the popular Palestinian crowds returning to the cities they were forced to leave, despite the destruction of their homes, attest to their greatness and deep-rooted connection to their land, regardless of the depth of their pain and tragedy.
