Key Takeaways
- Nearly 16,000 people entered Egypt via the Rafah border crossing since early November.
- 715 patients and 558 companions arrived for medical treatment.
- A Qatar‑mediated truce between Israel and Hamas expired on December 1, ending the temporary humanitarian pause.
Cairo: Nearly 16,000 people have entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing since early November, the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) said on Sunday.
“Since November, Egypt has allowed 12,858 foreign citizens and persons with dual citizenship to enter through the Rafah border crossing,” the SIS said in a statement.
The statement added that 715 patients and 558 people accompanying them also arrived in Egypt from the Gaza Strip.
In addition, more than 1,800 Egyptians returned to their homeland from the enclave.
On October 7, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large‑scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border.
Israel responded with retaliatory strikes and imposed a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off water, food, and fuel supplies.
On October 27, Israel began a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip aiming to eliminate Hamas fighters and rescue hostages.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The truce was extended several times and expired on December 1.
