麻豆APP

19 March 2026

OCHA reports the Rafah crossing reopened today for the limited movement of people in both directions, following a 20-day suspension.

This morning, the WHO and its partners supported the medical evacuation of nine adult patients requiring treatment that is unavailable in the Gaza Strip. Health colleagues say that most of these patients have trauma injuries, and that they were accompanied by 16 companions into Egypt.

Some 18,000 patients in Gaza remain without the treatment they urgently need. More patients will be able to access care once the Israeli authorities allow the resumption of referrals to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, scaling up health services within Gaza remains a top priority, which requires facilitating the entry of critical equipment.

As of earlier today, the UN and humanitarian partners are preparing to provide humanitarian services and support to people returning through Egypt.

OCHA states that the Kerem Shalom remains the only operational crossing for incoming humanitarian and commercial supplies, presenting a major bottleneck. Yesterday, three planned UN convoys to collect supplies from the crossing had to be cancelled after the Israeli authorities informed us that only fuel would be let in that day. This forced UN agencies to leave food, fodder and other items at the crossing for later pick up.

Humanitarians warn that reports continue of strikes hitting residential areas and causing casualties both in Gaza and in the West Bank – a reminder that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected.

Yesterday, three Palestinian women were reportedly killed in the southern West Bank during a missile attack carried out in the context of the regional escalation, and today a fourth Palestinian woman reportedly died of her wounds. These are the first fatalities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the context of the regional escalation. So far, damage to homes and vehicles has been reported in multiple locations across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, due to debris falling following the interception of Iranian missiles by Israeli forces.