Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for the movement of people, marking the first sustained reopening since the crossing was effectively closed in May 2024.
Palestinians have begun passing through the crossing following its reopening under a ceasefire framework backed by Donald Trump. The reopening had been expected during the first phase of the ceasefire plan introduced in October, but was delayed after Israel made it conditional on the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza.
The crossing had been under Israeli control since 2024, when Israeli forces captured the Gazan side. Since then, it has remained largely shut, severely restricting civilian movement and humanitarian access.
Under the current arrangements, only limited numbers of people will be allowed to cross each day. Israeli media reports indicate that around 50 medical patients, accompanied by one or two relatives, will be permitted to leave Gaza daily. In addition, about 50 people who left during the war will be allowed to return.
The reopening is being overseen by supervisors from the European Union Border Assistance Mission, alongside local Palestinian staff. Israeli authorities will conduct remote security screening of travellers.
An Israeli security official confirmed that the crossing will now allow entry and exit following the arrival of EU teams. Egyptian broadcaster Al Qahera News TV also reported that the first group of Palestinians returning from Egypt had already passed through the crossing.
The move has brought cautious relief to many Palestinians, particularly those in urgent need of medical treatment. According to local hospitals and the World Health Organization, around 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians are currently waiting to leave Gaza for specialised care.
Sabrine al-Da’ma, a mother hoping to travel with her daughter who suffers from kidney disease, said delays in treatment since the war had worsened her child’s condition. She said she feared missing the opportunity to donate a kidney to her daughter if travel was not approved quickly.
The WHO is overseeing the transfer of patients from areas under Hamas control, transporting them by bus across the so-called Yellow Line and into Israeli-controlled territory before they reach Egypt.
Israeli authorities said a trial opening of the crossing was completed on Sunday, with around 30 Palestinian staff deployed in preparation for full operations.
Before its closure in 2024, Rafah was Gaza’s main exit point for civilians and a key entry route for humanitarian aid. Currently, most aid entering from Egypt is redirected through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing.
More than 30,000 Gazans have registered with the Palestinian embassy in Cairo in the hope of returning home through Rafah.