Israeli forces shut down the crossing in early May after seizing it during an offensive on the southern city, causing Egypt to close its side in protest. View on euronews

The border point had been closed after Israel invaded the southern city of Rafah in May but is opening again as part of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas freed three hostages in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released scores of Palestinian prisoners in a fourth round of exchanges as part the Gaza ceasefire deal. The swap came as sick and wounded Palestinian children began crossing to Egypt for treatment through Gaza’s Rafah crossing in the first opening of the border since Israel captured it nearly nine months ago.

Thirty-seven sick and wounded Palestinians have left Gaza for medical treatment in Egypt following the reopening of the Rafah border crossing after eight months. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on X that 34 children and three adults, along with 39 companions, crossed out of Gaza to receive treatment in Egypt.

A group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children began entering Egypt for treatment through Gaza’s Rafah crossing on Saturday.