Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopens for restricted visitors

CAIRO — Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday for restricted visitors, a key step because the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire strikes forward, in keeping with Egyptian and Israeli safety officers.

An Egyptian official mentioned 50 Palestinians would cross in every path within the first day of the crossing’s operation. The official, concerned in talks associated the implementation of the ceasefire deal, spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity to debate the problem.

State-run Egyptian media and an Israeli safety official additionally confirmed the reopening, which for now at the least, is essentially symbolic. Few folks will probably be allowed to journey in both path, and no items will probably be allowed to enter.

About 20,000 Palestinian youngsters and adults needing medical care hope to go away devastated Gaza by way of the crossing, in keeping with Gaza well being officers. 1000’s of different Palestinians outdoors the territory hope to enter and return dwelling.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has additionally mentioned that Israel will permit 50 sufferers a day to go away. An official concerned within the discussions, talking on situation of anonymity to debate the diplomatic talks, mentioned every affected person could be allowed to journey with two family, whereas some 50 individuals who left Gaza throughout the conflict could be allowed to return every day.

The Egyptian well being ministry mentioned in a press release on Monday that 150 hospitals throughout the nation have been ready to obtain Palestinian sufferers and wounded who will probably be evacuated from Gaza by way of the Rafah crossing.

Israel has mentioned it and Egypt will vet folks for exit and entry by way of the crossing, which will probably be supervised by European Union border patrol brokers with a small Palestinian presence. The numbers of vacationers are anticipated to extend over time, if the system is profitable.

Ambulances line as much as enter the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing on the best way to the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.

Mohammed Arafat/AP

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Mohammed Arafat/AP

Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing in Might 2024, calling it a part of efforts to fight arms-smuggling for the militant Hamas group. The crossing was briefly opened for the evacuation of medical sufferers throughout a ceasefire in early 2025. Israel had resisted reopening the Rafah crossing, however the restoration of the stays of the final hostage in Gaza final week cleared the best way to maneuver ahead.

The reopening is a key step as final 12 months’s U.S.-brokered ceasefire settlement that took impact on Oct. 10 strikes into its second section.

Earlier than the conflict, Rafah was the primary crossing for folks shifting out and in of Gaza. The territory’s handful of different crossings are all shared with Israel. Underneath the ceasefire phrases, Israel’s army controls the realm between the Rafah crossing and the zone the place most Palestinians dwell.

Fearing that Israel might use the crossing to push Palestinians out of the enclave, Egypt has repeatedly mentioned it have to be open for them to enter and exit Gaza. Traditionally, Israel and Egypt have vetted Palestinians making use of to cross.

The present ceasefire halted greater than two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas that started with the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The truce’s first section known as for the change of all hostages held in Gaza for tons of of Palestinians held by Israel, a rise in badly wanted humanitarian help and a partial pullback of Israeli troops.

The second section of the ceasefire deal is extra sophisticated. It requires putting in the brand new Palestinian committee to manipulate Gaza, deploying a world safety power, disarming Hamas and taking steps to start rebuilding.