Israeli authorities have paused the planned evacuation of sick and wounded Palestinians through the Rafah border crossing, days after the key passage point briefly reopened for humanitarian movement. The announcement came amid a surge in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip that has killed dozens of people, including children, Palestinian officials said.
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| Palestinians mourn as the bodies of loved ones killed in Israeli attacks are transferred to Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital for funeral procedures, on February 4, 2026 [Khames Alrefi/Anadolu] Evacuations Halted After Limited Reopening The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that coordination for the departure of a third group of patients and their companions was cancelled at short notice. Red Crescent spokesperson Raed Al Nims said hospital staff and ambulances were ready to transfer the sick and wounded to the border crossing, but were informed in the morning that the evacuation would not proceed as planned. The World Health Organization (WHO), which is responsible for coordinating movement through Rafah, did not immediately comment on the reasons for the suspension. An Israeli authority responsible for coordinating access to Gaza said the crossing itself remained open, but that the required procedural coordination details had not been submitted by WHO at that stage. Background: Rafah Crossing Part of Ceasefire Deal The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt had been closed for nearly two years before partially reopening in early February 2026 under a ceasefire arrangement aimed at easing humanitarian suffering. In the first days of reopening, only a small number of patients and their escorts were able to leave Gaza for treatment in Egyptian hospitals due to strict security checks and limited daily capacities. The crossing’s status is tied to a fragile ceasefire agreement intended to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas that began in October 2023. Under the terms, limited movement through Rafah was to allow Palestinians who need urgent medical care to exit and later return after treatment. Violence Undermines Humanitarian Efforts The suspension of evacuations occurred against the backdrop of renewed Israeli military actions in Gaza. Medical sources and Palestinian health officials report that Israeli strikes have killed at least 20 people across Gaza on the same day, including several children, and have struck residential neighbourhoods in Gaza City and the Khan Younis area. These developments have raised concerns among humanitarian groups that movement restrictions at the Rafah crossing and ongoing hostilities are worsening the dire situation for civilians trapped inside Gaza, especially for the tens of thousands who remain on waiting lists for urgent medical evacuation. What Comes Next The pause in evacuations adds to frustration and confusion among Gaza’s residents and relief organisations, who had hoped the reopening of Rafah would offer at least a modest relief from years of restricted movement and limited access to healthcare outside the territory. Humanitarian advocates are calling for clearer coordination between Israeli authorities, WHO, and international partners to resume and expand evacuations for the most vulnerable patients in need of urgent care. For now, the temporary suspension highlights how tenuous and unpredictable the current humanitarian situation remains for civilians in Gaza. |
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