A Palestinian cancer patient stuck in Egypt for two years returns to Gaza

The al-Najjar family is finally reunited with its matriarch, Mariam, who returned via the Rafah crossing.Published On 13 Feb 2026The al-Najjar family gathered at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, early to await the arrival of their matriarch. They stood shoulder to shoulder, eagerly waiting for the bus.For nearly two years, they have been counting down the days, amid Israel’s genocidal war, destruction, trauma and mourning, until Mariam could return home via the Rafah crossing.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Gaza returnee recalls her journey through the Rafah crossinglist 2 of 3Elderly Palestinians determined to stay in Gaza despite terrible conditionslist 3 of 3Israel kills two in northern Gaza as Rafah crossing sees little movementend of list“We [the family] feel happy because we will see my mother again,” Mohammad al-Najjar, Mariam’s son, told Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Khan Younis.The family has suffered heavy losses, like all in Gaza.“But we are sad because the situation has changed so much,” said Mohammad, adding: “We lost my brother, and our homes – we lost two houses, and there’s nothing left for us.”Mariam travelled to Egypt for cancer treatment in March 2024, just a few months into Israel’s war, which has killed more than 72,000 people.Israel seized the Rafah crossing in May 2024, making “what was meant to be temporary become two years of separation”, said Mahmoud.A vital entry point for humanitarian supplies and exit for Palestinians awaiting medical evacuation, Israel partially reopened the crossing earlier this month, as stipulated under the United States-brokered “ceasefire”, which came into effect in October.However, Israel has imposed severe caps on the number of travellers permitted to come in and out of the devastated Palestinian enclave, and imposed intensive security checks, with endemic humiliation and interrogation of Palestinians by Israeli forces at the crossing.