Rafah Border Crossing Reopens After Extended Closure

Wed Feb 04 2026 04:56:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has reopened for the first time since a lengthy blockade began in May 2024, allowing limited movement for a small number of Palestinians seeking medical treatment and travel.

Palestinians can now re-enter through the Rafah crossing following its reopening after nearly a year of closure. The crossing will allow an estimated 50 individuals to exit daily while providing a mechanism for humanitarian exchanges as part of a ceasefire plan initiated by the U.S. amid an ongoing regional conflict. However, the crossing is heavily restricted with limited capacity and remains under tight security measures.

Palestinians have started to re-enter the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt after it reopened for the movement of people.

The crossing has largely been closed since May 2024, when the Palestinian side was captured by Israeli forces.

The long-delayed reopening is a key part of the first stage of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas, which began in October.

Only dozens of people will be able to cross in both directions each day. Humanitarian aid and commercial goods will still not be allowed through.

Around 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians are waiting to leave Gaza for treatment.

Israeli reports say only 50 patients - accompanied by two relatives - will be allowed to exit each day, and that 50 of the tens of thousands of people who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will oversee the transfer of patients from territory under Hamas control, transporting them by bus through territory controlled by the Israeli military to the crossing, BBC News understands.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that anyone who crossed the Yellow Line, which marks Israeli-controlled territory under the ceasefire deal, would be met with fire.

The Rafah crossing will be run by supervisors from the European Union and local Palestinian staff, while Israel will carry out remote security checks.

On Sunday, Israeli authorities said a trial opening of the crossing was carried out and completed.

Last week, the Israeli military said it had retrieved the remains of police officer Master Sgt Ran Gvili at a cemetery in northern Gaza, who was one of the 251 people abducted by Hamas during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the attack, has killed more than 71,790 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.