Border has been closed since May 2024 for even the most urgent medical cases and evacuations are significant first step

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The Rafah terminal that marks the crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt straddles a complicated border. On the Egyptian side, a double arch marks the entry to the terminal buildings themselves, and beyond Gaza.

On Saturday television cameras on the Egyptian side caught the moment that the crossing, which has been closed since May, was reopened for medical evacuations showing one young girl, whose foot had been amputated, being loaded into an Egyptian ambulance.