The fragile humanitarian corridor through Gaza’s Rafah crossing showed new signs of collapse on Tuesday, as medical evacuations were abruptly suspended amid renewed violence and rising institutional and regional tensions.
According to humanitarian officials cited in live updates from Al Jazeera, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society was informed that all scheduled medical evacuations through Rafah were cancelled for the day, leaving critically ill and wounded patients stranded inside Gaza. The suspension comes only days after the crossing was partially reopened following a prolonged closure, fueling concerns that the reopening may be largely symbolic.
Despite official assurances that up to 50 individuals would be allowed to cross daily for medical or humanitarian reasons, actual movement has remained far below that threshold. Only 16 people crossed on Tuesday, following just five on Monday. Palestinians returning to Gaza reported being blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to hours-long interrogation by Israeli forces before being permitted to re-enter the territory.
The breakdown in humanitarian access has coincided with escalating violence, despite a ceasefire framework announced in late 2025 under a U.S.-backed initiative commonly referred to as the “Trump truce plan.”
Health authorities in Gaza said at least 18 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday. The attacks were concentrated in the al-Tuffah and al-Zaytoun neighborhoods of Gaza City, with casualties including a four-year-old girl and an infant. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed a 24-year-old man during a raid in the city of Jericho.
The Israeli military confirmed that a reserve officer was critically wounded during clashes in northern Gaza, underscoring the continued volatility on the ground.
Beyond the fighting, the crisis has triggered institutional fallout. At Human Rights Watch, a public rift emerged following the resignation of the organization’s Israel-Palestine director Omar Shakir and researcher Milena Ansari. Both alleged that the organization’s leadership blocked publication of a report describing Israel’s denial of the Palestinian “Right of Return” as a crime against humanity, citing political sensitivities. The report has not been released publicly.
Regional tensions have also intensified. Reports indicate that a U.S. military jet downed an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea, even as U.S. President Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Tehran remain ongoing. The incident highlights the increasingly fragile balance between military confrontation and diplomatic engagement in the wider region.
In a separate diplomatic incident, Indian authorities ordered two British tourists to leave the country after they displayed “Free Palestine” stickers in the town of Pushkar. Officials said the act violated visa conditions, citing the town’s religious sensitivity and its popularity with Israeli tourists.
As winter rains continue to flood displacement camps and damaged homes across Gaza, humanitarian agencies warn that restricted access, renewed fighting, and deteriorating living conditions are pushing civilians closer to catastrophe. With ceasefire mechanisms faltering and humanitarian channels narrowing, prospects for sustained relief remain deeply uncertain.
