Few of Gaza's sick and wounded allowed to leave through reopened Rafah crossing

Geoff Bennett:

For the first time in more than a year-and-a-half, Gaza has a border open to the outside world.

But today's reopening of the Rafah Crossing with Egypt was limited and comes after a deadly weekend in Gaza. Palestinians say Israeli strikes killed more than 30 people. Israel says it was targeting Hamas reconstituting in Gaza.

Here's Nick Schifrin with more.

Nick Schifrin:

Tonight, after sunset, a new day for a handful of Palestinians, ambulances full of the wounded evacuating to Egypt, and dozens of Palestinians returning from Egypt to Gaza, eager to come home.

Earlier today, their families waited to welcome displaced relatives. Imam Rashwan hasn't seen her mother and sister for nearly a year.

Imam Rashwan, Separated From Family (through interpreter):

We have been waiting for it for a long time, and every time it is not true. But this time it was true. I hope that the crossing will open, God willing, not just for 56 people to return or leave. God willing, the crossing will open for everyone.

Nick Schifrin:

Israel and Egypt say every Palestinian who returns or leaves must be vetted. And so far, Israel is blocking any goods from crossing, the lucky few approved to leave a fraction of the estimated 20,000 Gazans in need of medical care, like Mohamed Abu Mustafa, whose wounded eyes today were covered by his mother, Rajaa.

The family says an Israeli strike blinded him as he waited for food to fight the family's hunger.

Rajaa Abu Mustafa, Mother of Medical Evacuee (through interpreter): For two years, we have been waiting for the crossing to open. And now the Ministry of Health called us, telling us that we will travel to Egypt in order to complete his treatment.

Nick Schifrin:

International organizations say only half of Gaza's hospitals and health care centers are even partially functional, but today's opening a key step toward phase two of the cease-fire that calls for Israeli troops to leave Gaza and be replaced by international forces, Hamas to be demilitarized, a step it has so far refused to take, and for Gaza's reconstruction, as envisioned here in a recent U.S. presentation.

The Palestinians say the cease-fire is in name only following a deadly weekend the Palestinians say killed more than 30. Saturday was the single deadliest day in Gaza in more than three months. The strikes hit an apartment building in Gaza City, a Hamas-run police station, and a camp housing the displaced.

Israel says Hamas violated the cease-fire the day before and that it targeted Hamas leaders and weapons, storage and manufacturing sites. Boys mourn their father and emergency crews try to identify the badly disfigured.

Mohammed Tammous, Spokesperson, Civil Defense in Northern Gaza (through interpreter): This is supposed to be a cease-fire, and this happens again. Our capacities are very limited. We need proper machinery, equipment to help us save injured civilians and bring out the martyrs' bodies from under the rubble.

Nick Schifrin:

The U.N. says that 80 percent of Gaza's buildings are largely rubble. The U.S. hopes that Gaza's future in the next three months includes a surge of humanitarian aid and a new rebuilding plan. But, until then, the displaced and death are still Gaza's present.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Nick Schifrin.