For the first time in nearly two years, Palestinians in Gaza are being allowed to cross into Egypt, though only in tightly restricted numbers.
The Rafah border crossing resumed partial operations on Monday, February 2, allowing a small number of Palestinians to exit and enter the besieged enclave. An Israeli security official confirmed the development, describing it as tightly controlled and restricted in scope.
The reopening forms part of the final measures under the first phase of a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect in October. Management of the crossing has been handed to the European Union, following coordination with Egyptian authorities and other stakeholders over the weekend. Israel had taken control of the crossing in May 2024, effectively shutting it down.
For now, crossings are capped at about 50 people per day in each direction, Egyptian state-linked media reported. While earlier discussions suggested higher exit numbers, entry into Gaza remains severely limited.
Inside the territory, the announcement has stirred cautious hope, particularly among patients in urgent need of care. At Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah, dialysis patient Ibrahim Al-Batran said the lack of medical access has already cost many lives.
“People are dying while waiting,” he said, adding that patients had been completely barred from leaving Gaza until now.
Health officials say the scale of need is overwhelming. More than 20,000 patients are awaiting approval to travel abroad for treatment, including hundreds in critical condition. Nearly 1,300 deaths have been recorded among those unable to access care outside the enclave, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Despite the reopening, practical obstacles remain steep. Travel costs, administrative delays and security screening mean that only a fraction of those in need may benefit. Before the closure, some travelers reportedly paid thousands of dollars to pass through Rafah, a price far beyond the reach of most families.
Israel has said the reopening will not include humanitarian aid or commercial traffic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that movement would remain limited. The crossing was reopened only after the return of all hostages, including the final deceased captive, Ran Gvili, who was handed over last week.
The move signals the end of the first stage of the ceasefire framework. The United States confirmed that talks on the second phase began two weeks ago.
Ali Shaath, who leads the Palestinian technocratic body expected to help oversee Gaza’s administration, described the development as both symbolic and urgent.
“For many people here, this is more than a crossing,” he said. “It represents survival.”
