Ambulances carrying Palestinian patients run towards the Rafah border crossing, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on March 19, 2026. A total of 25 Palestinians left the Gaza Strip for Egypt on Thursday through the Rafah border crossing after it reopened earlier in the day. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
GAZA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 25 Palestinians left the Gaza Strip for Egypt on Thursday through the Rafah border crossing after it reopened earlier in the day.
Palestinian sources told Xinhua that eight patients and 17 of their companions left Gaza for Egypt through the crossing.
The sources added that the patients and their companions were transported from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society headquarters in Khan Younis to the crossing.
This is the first group of Palestinians to leave Gaza following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that began on Feb. 28, which prompted the closure of the crossing again that had seen a partial opening since Feb. 2.
Israel announced on Sunday that the crossing, linking the Gaza Strip with Egypt, would be temporarily opened on Wednesday to transfer individuals.
Earlier on Thursday, an official security source told Xinhua the crossing reopened "in both directions." ■
Ambulances carrying Palestinian patients run towards the Rafah border crossing, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on March 19, 2026. A total of 25 Palestinians left the Gaza Strip for Egypt on Thursday through the Rafah border crossing after it reopened earlier in the day. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
