Rafah Border Closure Worsens Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

Today, the Gaza Health Ministry has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the continued closure of the Rafah Crossing. The Ministry now reports over 20,000 Palestinians with completed medical referrals unable to leave for treatment abroad, including 4,500 children. Of these cases, 440 are classified as life-saving emergencies, requiring immediate evacuation.

The Ministry reported that 1,268 patients have already died while waiting for permission to travel for medical care since Rafah was closed on May 7, 2024, following Israel’s ground assault on southern Gaza.

Only 3,100 patients have been allowed to leave the Strip during that period. The failure of Gaza’s medical services has heightened the need for assistance outside the enclave, compounded by severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, the collapse of most specialized health services, and the widespread destruction of hospital infrastructure.

Regarding the crossing’s continued closure, Israeli officials suggest the crossing will only be opened under conditions of full hostage return. On Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office released an official statement positing that the Rafah Crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt will only be opened “upon completion of this operation, and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the US, Israel will open the Rafah Crossing.” The operation being referred to is the search for the body of the last Israeli hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.

While Hamas has condemned the Israeli rhetorical appeals as political maneuvering, stalling the administration’s obligation to open all humanitarian corridors and allow for the full-scale supply of humanitarian aid into the Strip as outlined within the provisions of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, reports suggest that the final hostage has been retrieved. Reiterated by the administration as a key impasse halting the continued implementation of the 20-point peace plan, Israel said Monday that the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili have been identified and fully recovered. “With this, all of the abductees have been returned from the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.

With the return of the final hostage, the alleged political stalling is under scrutiny, as the international community puts pressure on Israeli authorities to open Rafah. Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, highlighted WHO’s (World Health Organization’s) readiness to help the 20,000 Palestinians needing to leave Gaza if Israel opens the crossing. Dujarric added, “WHO has already played a critical role; whenever there’s an opportunity for them to evacuate people that they know about, that they can facilitate, they will do that. I think we’ve shown that every time we were given more space in which to operate, we do so.”