Dozens of Palestinians cross from Egypt to Gaza on first day of truce

A Palestinian man who was stranded in Egypt due to the Israel-Hamas conflict is welcomed upon his arrival, during a temporary truce, at the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza on November 24. Arafat Barbakh/Reuters

At least 67 Palestinians who have been stuck in Egypt since fighting began on October 7 crossed back into Gaza on Friday, hours after the truce went into effect.

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo said Thursday that Palestinians stuck in the Sinai Peninsula will be allowed to cross to Gaza on Friday. Other Palestinians elsewhere in parts of Egypt will be allowed to cross to Gaza from Saturday if they wish, the embassy added.

Zeinat Al-Gindy, who had traveled to Egypt for medical treatment before the war started, spoke to CNN shortly before she went through the Rafah border crossing. “The soil of Gaza is our soul, it’s the air we breathe. This is the land of perseverance. God willing, the victory will be ours,” she added. 

A young man who declined to give his name he wants to return home even if there is little left of it.

I haven’t been able to reach my family for 22 days. I can’t reach them by phone or via internet. Where are they? What happened to them? I don’t know anything about them,” he said.