Egypt 'ready' to receive wounded from Gaza once Rafah crossing reopens

Egypt has said that it is ready to receive wounded people from Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid once the Rafah border crossing is reopened.

North Sinai Governor Major General Khaled Mujawir told Egyptian state television on Wednesday that the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing is prepared for developments on the ground.

“The crisis management centre is working on possible scenarios, including the delivery of aid, if developments allow, in preparation for the reopening of the crossing,” Mujawir said.

Noting that Egypt has made prior preparations, he stressed that coordination is ongoing with the crisis centre in Cairo and all state institutions.

'Ready for entry of aid'

“We are 100% ready for the entry of aid and for receiving the wounded from Gaza.”

US President Donald Trump announced on October 9, 2025, that Israel and Hamas had approved the first phase of a ceasefire plan for Gaza during ongoing negotiations in Egypt.

The ceasefire went into effect the next day, following approval by the Israeli government.

The body of the last Israeli national in Gaza, Ran Gvili, was recovered and returned to Israel on January 26, with Palestinian groups in Gaza largely fulfilling the conditions of the first phase of the agreement.

Israel breaches ceasefire

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued attacks against Palestinians in Gaza under various pretexts.

Meanwhile, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced on January 14 that the second phase of a 20-point Gaza plan had begun and that a Gaza National Administration Committee made up of Palestinian technocrats had been formed under the leadership of Ali Shaas.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border and allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza in agreed quantities are among the commitments in the first phase of the agreement.

According to Israel’s state broadcaster KAN, the Rafah crossing is expected to reopen in both directions on February 1. Israel seized control of the crossing in May 2024.