Partial reopening of the Rafah crossing

On Sunday, Israel began procedures to partially reopen the Rafah crossing, months after the ceasefire took effect and humanitarian organizations demanded that it be opened without obstacles to deliver aid to the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip.

This comes as violations of the ceasefire in effect since October 10 in the Gaza Strip continue, the most recent of which was Israeli raids on Saturday that killed 32 people, including women and children, according to the Civil Defense in Gaza.

The Rafah crossing with Egypt is the only land crossing into the Gaza Strip without passing through the Hebrew state, but it has remained closed since Israeli forces took control of it in May 2024. They partially reopened it for a short period in early 2025.

The Israeli Government Coordination Unit in the Palestinian Territories (COGAT), affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, said, “Today, the Rafah crossing was opened in a way that allows limited passage for residents only.”

An official in the Ministry of Health in Gaza said that about 200 patients were waiting to be allowed to leave the Strip once the crossing was opened.