News|Israel-Palestine conflictIsrael kills two in Gaza, blocks thousands from medical exit through RafahThe latest deaths come as just 260 people, out of 18,500 in urgent need, have been allowed to seek medical care via the crossing to Egypt, the United Nations says.
On Wed, Feb 3, 2026, at least two Palestinians were reported killed in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip. Israeli fire was responsible for these fatalities as tensions continue in the region. Additionally, the Rafah crossing remains a focal point,…
On Wed, Feb 3, 2026, at least two Palestinians were reported killed in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip. Israeli fire was responsible for these fatalities as tensions continue in the region. Additionally, the Rafah crossing remains a focal point, with limited access for Palestinians seeking urgent medical attention.
A child was reported killed by an Israeli drone strike in the northern Gaza Strip. The incident occurred as children were en route to inspect their homes. In a separate event, Muhand Jamal al-Najjar, aged 20, was killed by Israeli soldiers near the Bani Suheila roundabout in Khan Younis, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Hospital sources reported injuries to three Palestinians in al-Mughraqa and the al-Mawasi area of Rafah. Since the ceasefire took effect in mid-October, over 600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,600 wounded, as per the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Rafah Crossing and Medical Evacuations
The Israeli military maintains a blockade on Palestinians wishing to exit Gaza through the Rafah crossing to Egypt for medical care. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 260 patients have left Gaza since the reopening, a fraction of the 18,500 people requiring evacuation.
On Wed, Feb 3, 2026, at least two Palestinians were reported killed in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip.
The patient numbers fall short of earlier promises from Egyptian border officials. Human rights and medical organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), continue to advocate for increased access to medical care outside Gaza.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for immediate reopening of the medical referral route to the West Bank and for international cooperation in accepting patients for specialized care. He also highlighted the necessity of reducing reliance on medical evacuations by enhancing health services within Gaza.
OCHA reported that 269 people had returned to Gaza as of Feb 11, 2026. Returnees have reported experiences of physical searches and intense interrogations by Israeli soldiers. Previous accounts have described blindfolding and psychological pressure during interrogations prior to re-entry into Gaza.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
