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Rafah crossing reopens after prolonged shutdown
Palestinians began passing through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Monday, marking its first operational use since Israeli forces seized control in May 2024. The reopening follows months of negotiations tied to a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan initiated in October.
Strict movement limits imposed
Under the current arrangement, only a few dozen individuals will be permitted to cross daily in each direction. Humanitarian aid and commercial shipments remain prohibited, despite ongoing shortages in Gaza. Approximately 20,000 injured or ill Palestinians are awaiting medical evacuation, though Israeli authorities have capped daily patient exits at 50, each accompanied by two relatives.
An equal number of Palestinians who fled Gaza during the conflict will be allowed to return, according to Israeli statements. The World Health Organization will coordinate patient transfers, escorting them by bus through Israeli-controlled territory to the crossing.
Security measures and operational control
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that crossing into Israeli-controlled zones-marked by a Yellow Line under the ceasefire agreement-would trigger military response. The crossing itself will be managed by European Union monitors and local Palestinian personnel, with Israel conducting remote security screenings.
A trial run conducted Sunday reportedly involved 30 Palestinian staff members arriving at the Egyptian side, a Palestinian official told the BBC. The reopening adheres to mechanisms established under a January 2025 ceasefire deal, per terms of the U.S. peace proposal.
Delays and diplomatic disputes
The crossing's closure in May 2024 severed Gaza's primary exit route for civilians and main entry point for aid. Egypt had conditioned reopening on bidirectional movement, demanding the return of tens of thousands of Palestinians who fled during the war. Israel initially linked the crossing's reactivation to Hamas's recovery of the last Israeli hostage's remains.
Last week, the Israeli military announced it had retrieved the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, a police officer killed during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left approximately 1,200 dead. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed over 71,790 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Ceasefire plan's first phase
The Rafah reopening represents the initial step in a 20-point U.S. proposal aimed at de-escalating hostilities. However, broader humanitarian access and sustained movement remain contingent on further negotiations.
