As fragile ceasefire holds, aid trickles into Gaza via Egypt
- By Hamada Elsaram
- Elle Kurancid
Weeks into the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Cairo photojournalist Hamada Elrasam observes the fragile deal slowly being implemented as life-saving aid trucks and ambulances converge on Egypt’s side of the Rafah border crossing with the besieged Gaza Strip. Captions written by Elle Kurancid.
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Trucks carrying vital humanitarian aid line up on the main road to the Rafah crossing amid harsh weather conditions. On the other side of the border, officials say as many as 14,000 Palestinians, including 2,500 children, require urgent medical evacuation. Rafah, Egypt, Feb. 4, 2025.
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An Egyptian child carries the Palestinian flag down a rocky road near the Rafah border, less than 2 kilometers away from the decimated Gaza Strip following 16 months of Israeli bombardments. Rafah, Egypt, Feb. 4, 2025.
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A message on the Egypt-Gaza border wall reads in Arabic, "No to displacement." Israel seized control of Gaza’s side of the crossing in May, halting or disrupting the flow of supplies and evacuees. Rafah, Egypt, Feb. 4, 2025.
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Empty ambulances wait along the Rafah border wall. The ceasefire deal stipulates the reopening of the crossing to 50 medical evacuees daily, since Gaza’s health sector is on "the brink of total collapse," the U.N. says. Rafah, Egypt, Feb. 4, 2025.
