Rafah Border Crossing Reopens, Offering Limited Relief for Gaza
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Monday, February 2, 2026, for a limited number of people, marking a key step in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The reopening, which occurred nearly two years after Israel closed the crossing, is intended to allow the passage of sick and wounded Palestinians seeking medical treatment in Egypt, as well as a limited number of Palestinians returning to Gaza.
However, the initial flow of people has been significantly restricted. According to reports, only five patients and seven companions crossed from Gaza on Monday, February 2, 2026. An additional 12 Palestinians were permitted to return to Gaza, while 38 were reportedly held on the Egyptian side pending Israeli security clearance.
The reopening was initially slated to occur during the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, which began in October. Israel had blocked the reopening until the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, an event that occurred last week.
Israeli officials have indicated that only 50 patients, accompanied by one or two relatives, will be allowed to exit Gaza each day, and that 50 people who left Gaza during the war will be permitted to return. Despite this stated capacity, the actual number of people processed on Monday fell far short of these figures.
Around 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians are waiting to leave Gaza for treatment, according to local hospitals and the World Health Organization (WHO). This underscores the urgent need for increased access to medical care for the population of Gaza.
The crossing will be supervised by personnel from the European Union Border Assistance Mission and local Palestinian staff, while Israel will conduct “stringent security checks remotely.” Palestinian officials have attributed delays to these Israeli security checks, though there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding these claims.
The reopening is seen as a lifeline for many Palestinians, though frustration remains over the limited number of people and the lack of provisions for the entry of goods. The situation remains fluid, and the long-term impact of the reopening on the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains to be seen.
In related news, Israel reopened the Zikim border crossing in November 2025 for the entry of humanitarian aid into northern Gaza, two months after it was closed during an Israeli military operation. The Zikim crossing is now intended to remain open “permanently,” similar to the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, which has been the primary entry point for aid over the past two years.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert on February 2, 2026, but the content of the alert was not detailed in the provided search results.
