Gaza’s key Rafah border crossing with Egypt is reopening but only on a limited basis

Cairo – Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday due to limited traffic, an important step as a step Israel-Hamas cease fighting is moving forward, according to Egyptian and Israeli security officials.

An Egyptian official said 50 Palestinians would cross on all sides on the first day of the crossing. The official, who is involved in negotiations regarding the implementation of the ceasefire, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

Egyptian state-run media and an Israeli official have also confirmed the reopening is at least symbolic. Few people will be allowed to travel to or from both sides, and no goods will be allowed to enter.

About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults in need of medical assistance are hoping to leave the devastated Gaza by crossing, according to Gaza health officials. Thousands of other Palestinians outside the area hope to enter and return to their homes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that Israel will allow 50 patients a day to leave. An official involved in the talks, who did not want to be named to discuss the talks, said each patient would be allowed to travel with two relatives, and about 50 people who left Gaza during the war would be allowed to return each day.

Israel has also said that Egypt will check people’s exits and entrances at the crossing, which will be overseen by European Union border patrol agents and a small Palestinian presence. The number of travelers is expected to increase over time if the plan is successful.

Israeli forces seized the Rafah crossing in May 2024, calling it part of efforts to combat arms smuggling to Hamas. The crossing was briefly opened to evacuate medical patients during the ceasefire in early 2025. Israel had refused to reopen the Rafah crossing, however the discovery of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza last week it paved the way to move forward.

Reopening a a step as important as last year’s US-brokered ceasefire agreement which started working on October 10 is going into its second phase.

Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing point for people entering and leaving Gaza. A number of other crossings were all assigned to Israel. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli military controls the area between the Rafah crossing and the area where the majority of Palestinians live.

Fearing that Israel might use the crossing to push the Palestinians out of the area, Egypt has repeatedly said that it must be open for them to enter and exit Gaza. Historically, Israel and Egypt have screened Palestinian applicants for crossing.

The current ceasefire halted more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas that began with a Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The first phase of the deal called for the exchange of all hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel, an increase in Israel’s much-needed humanitarian aid and a gradual withdrawal.

The second stage is more complicated. It calls for the installation of a new Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, the disarmament of Hamas and the start of reconstruction.

The head of the United Nations children’s agency said last week that there is a surplus of supplies in Egypt ready to enter Gaza whenever the crossing opens to facilitate traffic.

“We have assets set aside,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s deputy executive director. “We have our great staff doing a great job on the ground. We have plans that can be implemented quickly if access is granted.”

The next phase needs to involve bringing in not only humanitarian and commercial supplies but also permanent shelter supplies and infrastructure repairs, he added.