Egyptian ambulances start entering Gaza via Rafah crossing

GAZA, Palestine

Egyptian ambulances started entering the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning via the Rafah border crossing in preparation to transport critically injured Palestinian patients for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

Private broadcaster Al Qahera News reported Wednesday that 40 ambulances have passed through the crossing from Egypt.

The channel said Egyptian hospitals were re-equipped and upgraded in preparation to receive about 80 critically injured Palestinians.

It also reported that cars and trucks have started moving towards Gaza, along with preparations in Egypt to provide further humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.

"Several individuals with foreign nationalities gathered in front of the crossing's gate. However, no ambulance has entered the Palestinian side of the crossing as of yet," an Anadolu correspondent reported.

The correspondent further confirmed that Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders teams had also arrived on the Palestinian side of the crossing.

On Tuesday evening, Egyptian authorities informed the General Crossings and Borders Authority in Gaza that the Rafah border crossing would be opened on Wednesday to start facilitating the passage of critically injured Palestinian patients for treatment in Egypt.

"We have been informed by the Egyptian side that 81 severely injured individuals will depart for treatment in Egyptian hospitals on Wednesday," the authority stated.

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala