The Take Rafah crossing partially reopens as wounded remain trapped
Feb 4, 2026
Ali Harb, Al Jazeera senior producer and correspondent covering Gaza and the Middle East, breaks down the Rafah crossing's partial reopening. He walks through how medical evacuations are approved and delayed. He details Gaza’s decimated health system, medicine shortages, and the limits of evacuations without rebuilding. He explains Egypt’s dilemma and the risk that the opening may not last.
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Patient's Relief Leaving For Treatment
- A patient expressed joy at being allowed to leave Gaza for urgent eye treatment despite leaving young children behind.
- She had waited a year and a half and felt honored to be among the first to go.
Israeli Control Delays Life-Saving Evacuations
- Israel controls approvals for medical evacuations, creating long delays and uncertainty for patients.
- Only five patients left on the first day despite thousands needing urgent care, showing the gap between policy and reality.
Gaza's Medical Infrastructure Was Ravaged
- Gaza's health system was functioning pre-war but has been systemically devastated by the conflict.
- Hospitals, equipment and many specialists are missing, leaving complex cases untreatable inside Gaza.