Humanitarian Setback: Israel Halts Medical Evacuations via Rafah Crossing Following Deadly Escalation in Gaza

The fragile hope for Gaza’s wounded vanished on Wednesday as Israel cancelled the coordination for patients and injured Palestinians to exit through the Rafah Crossing. The Israeli decision followed a sharp military escalation early Wednesday morning: an Israeli officer was critically wounded by gunfire in the northern Strip, prompting retaliatory strikes that killed at least 9 Palestinians, including four children and an infant, according to Gaza's Civil Defense.

Despite the U.S.-backed "Phase Two" ceasefire, both sides are now trading blame for repeated violations. The closure of the crossing—Gaza's only link to outside medical care—leaves hundreds of critical cases stranded. As the cycle of "precise strikes" and militant fire continues, international mediators face an uphill battle to prevent the total collapse of the truce and the deepening of the humanitarian catastrophe.