The German Foreign Ministry has welcomed the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, calling it a significant step in the implementation of the 20-point plan.
The opening “will initially allow the medical treatment of the sick and injured abroad, offering hope to the people in need in Gaza”, the ministry said in a statement.
It added that it's committed to the systematic opening of additional border crossings for the movement of goods and supplies into Gaza. "The European Union is making a significant contribution via the EUBAM Rafah Mission, which is on the ground at the crossing as a third party alongside the Palestinian Authority, Germany supports the Mission by providing personnel at its headquarters."
A few sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza arrived in Egypt on Monday after the Rafah border crossing reopened for the movement of people.
The crossing has largely been closed since the Gaza side was captured by Israeli forces in May 2024.
The reopening was supposed to happen during the first phase of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas, which began in October. But Israel blocked it until the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage, which happened last week.
Israel has set the maximum number of medical patients allowed to leave Gaza per day through Rafah at 50. Comparing that with the 20,000 desperately needing medical evacuation, humanitarian workers say Israel’s allowance is a drop in the bucket of what is needed.
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