File Photo Rafah boarder crossing from the Egyptian side. AP
In remarks to the Egyptian news agency MENA, the source said the Egyptian side of the crossing is ready to receive wounded and sick Palestinians from the Gaza Strip for urgent medical treatment. Dozens of Egyptian ambulances are stationed at the crossing, awaiting their arrival.
“The medical teams are on constant alert, awaiting the entry of the 46th batch of wounded and sick Palestinians and their companions, which was scheduled to enter today,” the source added.
The source noted that the 45th batch of injured Palestinians and their companions arrived in Egypt on Monday, bringing the total number of wounded individuals treated in Egypt to 1,700, alongside 2,500 companions.
The Rafah crossing has been a critical lifeline for the war-ravaged strip, but since 2 March, Israel has blocked the entry of aid trucks in a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached on 19 January.
According to the source, aid trucks and heavy equipment needed for reconstruction efforts in Gaza have been stranded on both sides of the Rafah-Arish Road.
The closure comes amid stalled efforts to extend the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The first phase of the three-phase agreement concluded without progress towards the second phase due to Israel's intransigence.
Instead of moving to the second phase, which would entail the release of remaining captives and a lasting ceasefire, Israel called only for the return of captives for a longer-term truce till April.
Following the overnight airstrikes, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced earlier on Tuesday that the Rafah crossing would remain closed to injured Palestinians in Gaza.
The recent Israeli attacks on the strip, which resulted in the deaths of 412 Palestinians and injuries to over 500 others, were Israel's latest and most violent breach of the truce deal.
The escalation followed Tel Aviv's cutting of power and halting of humanitarian deliveries into Gaza for over two weeks in an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting its conditions for the ceasefire extension.
On Tuesday, Israel vowed to continue its assault on the strip until all its captives are returned.
Hamas, in response, accused Israel of choosing to "resume war" following a deadlock in truce extension talks and warned that renewed fighting could mean a "death sentence" for its captives.
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