The return comes amid a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side, following the entry into force of the second phase of the ceasefire as well as pressure from Cairo and Washington, after Israel had forcibly shut the crossing in May 2024.
Teams from the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) received the returnees upon arrival in Egypt, assisting with coordination and providing food, water, and basic support, the sources said.
Egyptian authorities are also preparing to receive another group of wounded and sick Palestinians from Gaza for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. The Ministry of Health has established a medical point in Rafah to examine incoming patients, conduct triage, and transfer cases to hospitals via ambulance.
The Rafah land crossing linking Egypt and Gaza was reopened on the Palestinian side last Monday, allowing Palestinians limited movement between Egypt and the strip. Israel later reclosed the crossing from the Palestinian side on Friday and Saturday, citing the weekend holiday.
Four groups of Palestinian returnees crossed back into Gaza last week, while Egypt received several wounded Palestinians for medical care.
Under current arrangements, the crossing is operated by Palestinian officials under European Union (EU) oversight, while Israel vets passenger lists in advance and conducts security screenings at a separate facility beyond the crossing.
Some Palestinians who returned to Gaza after the reopening reported degrading treatment during Israeli screening procedures. The Associated Press (AP) quoted three women from a group of 12 returnees—mostly women, children, and elderly people—who said they were blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated for hours, and threatened before being allowed to enter Gaza.
The women said they were questioned about Hamas and pressured to cooperate with Israeli authorities, describing verbal abuse and psychological intimidation but no physical assault. The Israeli military denied the allegations, telling the AP it was not aware of any misconduct.
Other returnees reported strict limits on personal belongings, lengthy delays, and confusion over procedures, with far fewer Palestinians permitted 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. Hamas called on mediators to intervene to ensure the safety and dignity of Palestinians transiting through Rafah.
Meanwhile, Egypt has expanded medical support for Palestinians arriving from Gaza. On Thursday, Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar received a group of wounded Palestinians at Rafah during an inspection visit.
The minister told Al-Qahera News that Egypt has administered about 18,000 vaccine doses to roughly 13,500 children since November 2023, following agreements that allowed Cairo to receive wounded Palestinians from Gaza. He said the vaccinations targeted injured children as well as children crossing with their families, after Gaza’s healthcare system was severely disrupted during the war.
Egypt has also provided basic hygiene supplies and primary medical services to children and accompanying relatives, he said.
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