Gaza City: After being almost entirely closed for nearly two years, Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on a limited, pilot basis, a significant albeit cautious shift in the status of Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world beyond Israeli-controlled borders. The trial reopening began early Sunday, with pedestrian movement set to expand this week under strict security coordination.
Israeli authorities, through COGAT the military agency charged with overseeing civilian movement and aid into and out of Gaza confirmed the reopening follows months of diplomatic engagements, humanitarian pressure, and the fulfilment of a key requirement outlined in a ceasefire framework. Movement is initially restricted to pedestrians only, and operations will proceed under joint oversight by Egypt and European Union observers.
The reopening represents the first controlled passage through Rafah in nearly two years since Israeli forces seized control of the terminal in May 2024 amid the long-running conflict with Hamas. Prior to the seizure and prolonged closure, Rafah served as the principal conduit for civilians, medical evacuations, international travel and, crucially, large volumes of humanitarian assistance.
Under the pilot plan, only a small number of Palestinians will be permitted to cross daily. Estimates suggest approximately 150 people may depart Gaza each day, while around 50 may return. Priority is expected to be given to patients in need of urgent medical treatment abroad, along with close family escorts, and individuals who left Gaza earlier in the war and now seek to return.
All travellers must undergo advance security clearance by Israeli and Egyptian authorities, and crossings will be monitored by a European Union border mission. While the reopening allows limited movement of people, restrictions remain stringent, with goods and large cargo including major humanitarian aid deliveries not permitted through Rafah at this stage.
For Gaza’s beleaguered population, the reopening is a moment of fragile relief rather than full vindication. Thousands of patients, including children and those with chronic conditions, have been waiting for opportunities to access medical care outside the enclave. The ability to cross even on foot is seen as a modest but symbolically important step toward alleviating dire humanitarian conditions.
However, significant limitations remain. The crossing’s restricted status means that critical medical and food supplies continue to depend on alternative, limited channels under Israeli control, and the broader health and infrastructure crisis in Gaza persists. Recent diplomatic tensions have also emerged around the suspension of several international aid groups for regulatory reasons, a move that critics say could further strain assistance efforts.
The reopening occurs against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brokered in late 2025, which laid out a phased framework for de-escalation, prisoner exchanges, and reinstating limited civil and economic functions in Gaza. Rafah’s reopening was a key element of that plan, tied to the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage as a precondition for moving forward.
Despite the ceasefire, isolated clashes and security incidents have continued, underscoring the delicate nature of progress. Analysts warn that while the move to reopen Rafah reflects diplomatic momentum, security concerns and political disagreements among local and regional actors could shape the crossing’s future trajectory.
Officials in Israel, Egypt and international monitoring bodies describe this initial phase as a test run one that may broaden if conditions allow and systems function effectively. For many Gazans, the hope is that the pilot operation will expand into a more sustained reopening that eventually restores a full flow of people, supplies and essential services through Rafah.
Yet the path forward remains uncertain, contingent on continued diplomacy, security assurances, and cooperation among stakeholders invested in Gaza’s future.