Israel reopened the Rafah crossing on Monday (2 February) to a trickle of Palestinians for the first time in months, a major step in a U.S.-backed plan to end the war, though strict Israeli security checks slowed the process.
The Rafah crossing, standing amidst rubble and ruins, is the sole route in or out for nearly all of Gaza's more than 2 million residents.
It was largely shut for most of the war, and reopening it to allow even limited access to the outside world is one of the last steps required under the initial phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire reached in October.
The crossing reopened around 9 a.m. on Monday (2 February) morning. Some 50 Palestinians had been expected to enter the territory with a similar number exiting. Many of those seeking to depart are hospital patients awaiting specialised medical care outside Gaza.
By nightfall, Israel had permitted 12 Palestinians to reenter the area, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said.
A further 38 had not cleared security and would wait on the Egyptian side of the crossing overnight, they said.
In terms of those exiting, Israel permitted five patients escorted by two relatives each to cross to the Egyptian side, the sources said. That brought the total number entering and exiting to 27. Palestinian officials blamed delays on Israeli security checks. Israel's military had no immediate comment.
Some 20,000 Gazans are hoping to leave Gaza for treatment abroad. Despite the slow reopening, many of them said the step brought relief.
"The crossing is a lifeline for Gaza, it is the lifeline for us, the patients," said Moustafa Abdel Hadi, 32, who receives kidney dialysis at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza.
Israel seized the border crossing in May 2024, about seven months into the Gaza war. Since then, it has largely been closed apart from a brief period during an earlier ceasefire in early 2025.
Reopening the crossing was one of the requirements under the October ceasefire that outlined the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to stop fighting between Israel and Hamas.
In January, Trump declared the start of the second phase where the sides would negotiate the shattered territory's future governance and reconstruction.
Israeli inspection
In the war's early months before Israel shut the crossing, some 100,000 Palestinians exited to Egypt through Rafah.
Though Egypt has repeatedly made clear it will not allow a large-scale exodus, the route is seen as vital for wounded and sick Palestinians to seek medical care. While it was closed, only a few thousand were allowed out for medical treatment in third countries through Israel.
Palestinians seeking to cross at Rafah will require Israeli security approval, three Egyptian sources said. Reinforced concrete walls, topped with barbed wire, have been installed along the crossing area, the sources said.
Foreign journalists barred from Gaza
Despite the reopening of Rafah, Israel is still refusing to allow the entry of foreign journalists, banned from Gaza since the start of the war.
Israel's Supreme Court is considering a petition by the Foreign Press Association that demands foreign journalists be allowed to enter Gaza. Government lawyers argue this could pose risks to Israeli soldiers.
Under the first phase of the ceasefire, major combat was halted, hostages held in Gaza were released in return for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid was promised.
The next phase of Trump's plan foresees Hamas giving up its weapons and relinquishing control to an internationally backed administration that would oversee reconstruction, including luxury residential buildings along the Mediterranean coast.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening t...
Iran says it is holding “positive” talks with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, while an official source familiar with t...
Top Arab and Muslim foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Amman on Wednesday to establish a mechanism to document alleged Israeli violations in Jer...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies has reported a 93 per cent year-on-year jump in second-quarter revenue, even as the company faces continued criticism over its work with Israel's military and allegations linking its technology to the war in Gaza.a.
Iran says it is holding “positive” talks with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, while an official source familiar with the negotiations has said an “agreement is within reach”.
Top Arab and Muslim foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Amman on Wednesday to establish a mechanism to document alleged Israeli violations in Jerusalem, urging coordinated international action to protect the city's religious sites.
Pakistan has stepped up flood preparedness after the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that El Niño is expected to strengthen from August, increasing the risk of more extreme weather worldwide as monsoon rains continue across the country.
Afghanistan has launched a five-year national health strategy to strengthen healthcare services as the country faces severe funding shortages, rising humanitarian needs and mounting pressure on its health system.
At least 14 people have been killed and several others injured after lightning struck across the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, highlighting the dangers of the country's annual monsoon season.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment