Egyptian ambulances crossed the Rafah border checkpoint on the Egyptian side on February 10, 2026, highlighting the vital yet perilous nature of the enclave’s sole crossing with Egypt. For many families, however, the route back has transformed into a trap.
Maysoun Al-Rifi, a 30-year-old attorney residing in Gaza City, has learned only the detention location of her 60-year-old mother, Amal Al-Rifi. With foreign press barred from entering Gaza by Israel following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, families rely on difficult communications to track missing loved ones.
Amal Al-Rifi, who suffers from breast cancer that has metastasized to her lungs, had been evacuated to Egypt for medical treatment in February 2025 during a temporary truce. Her medical transfer was coordinated with the World Health Organization, allowing her to undergo two surgeries and extensive chemotherapy treatments in Egypt.
Yet the grueling medical regimen and prolonged separation took a heavy toll. Exhausted by treatment and struggling with a declining psychological state, Amal expressed a wish to return to Gaza to spend her final days with her family, preferring to die near home rather than endure further isolation abroad. She was detained alongside her other daughter, Yasmine, who had accompanied her on the journey, as they attempted to re-enter Gaza.
