The sources said a team from the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) received the returnees at the Rafah land crossing early on Thursday, facilitating procedures in coordination with the relevant authorities.
ERC teams distributed meals, water, and juice, handed out sweets and chocolate to children, and provided psychological support.
Egyptian authorities are also preparing to receive the fourth group of wounded and sick Palestinians from Gaza for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health has established a medical point at the Rafah crossing to conduct examinations, triage cases, and transfer patients to hospitals via fully equipped Egyptian ambulances.
The Rafah land crossing, linking Egypt and the Gaza Strip, resumed two-way movement on Monday, allowing Palestinians to travel between Egypt and Gaza.
The reopening followed the start of the second phase of the ceasefire and came after Egyptian and US pressure, following the closure of the crossing by Israeli forces from the Palestinian side in May 2024.
The third group of Palestinian returnees departed for Gaza on Wednesday, while Egypt received several wounded and sick Palestinians for treatment in its hospitals, according to the sources.
Egyptian authorities are facilitating the return, particularly for patients and the wounded who had left Gaza during the war.
Meanwhile, another group of Palestinian returnees has reached Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip late on Wednesday via the Rafah crossing.
International media reported that some Palestinians returning to Gaza on the first day of the crossing’s reopening said they faced humiliating treatment during Israeli screening procedures.
The Associated Press quoted three women from a group of 12 returnees, mostly women, children, and the elderly, who said they were blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated for hours, and threatened before entering Gaza.
The incidents reportedly occurred at an Israeli screening facility beyond the Rafah crossing, which returnees must pass through after leaving Egypt.
The women said they were questioned about Hamas and other issues unrelated to them and were pressured to cooperate with Israeli authorities, describing verbal abuse and psychological intimidation but no physical assault.
The Israeli occupation army denied the allegations, telling the AP it was not aware of any misconduct or mistreatment.
Israel agreed to reopen Rafah on a limited basis earlier this week, under international and regional pressure, as part of a truce brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States.
Under the arrangement, the crossing is operated by Palestinian officials with oversight from a European Union mission, while Israel vets passenger lists in advance and conducts security screening at a separate facility.
Returnees also reported strict restrictions on belongings, lengthy delays, and confusion over procedures, with far fewer Palestinians allowed to cross than initially expected.
Palestinian factions and rights groups said the accounts were consistent with long-standing allegations of mistreatment at Israeli-controlled screening points, while Hamas called on mediators to intervene to ensure the safety and dignity of Palestinians transiting through Rafah.
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