Daijiworld Media Network - Cairo

Cairo, Feb 1: The Rafah crossing, the only link between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, has been opened and will begin receiving patients from Gaza, Governor of Egypt's North Sinai Governorate Khaled Megawer announced.

"The opening of the crossing was announced earlier today. We will start receiving patients," the governor stated on social media platform X, without specifying the exact time for the transfer of Gazan patients.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that the first group of sick and injured individuals would be allowed to exit Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Saturday as part of urgent humanitarian efforts to provide medical treatment outside the besieged territory. The transfer will be conducted under the supervision of the World Health Organization and other relevant authorities.

Health officials noted that selected patients and their companions would gather at the Al-Shifa and Nasser medical complexes before being transported to the crossing.

Meanwhile, Saturday will also witness another round of hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas under the ongoing ceasefire agreement. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, announced that three Israeli hostages would be released. In response, Israeli authorities will free 90 Palestinian prisoners, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed receiving the list of hostages to be freed, which includes Israeli-French citizen Ofer Calderon, 54, Israeli-American citizen Keith Siegel, 65, and Israeli civilian Yarden Bibas, 35.

Under the ceasefire deal, which halted more than 15 months of conflict, 33 hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza are to be released over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Since the deal’s implementation on January 19, Hamas has freed 15 captives, including five Thai workers, while 400 Palestinian detainees have been released in exchange.