by Ali Hassan
After months of closure, limited movement of people resumes at Gaza’s southern border with Egypt under strict conditions
The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has reopened for the movement of people, marking a significant but tightly controlled easing of restrictions after months of closure. The crossing had been largely shut since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Gazan side.
Palestinians began passing through the crossing on Monday morning, following the arrival of European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) teams tasked with supervising operations alongside local Palestinian staff. Israel will continue to conduct remote security checks, according to Israeli officials.
The reopening had been предусмотрed during the first phase of a ceasefire plan promoted by US President Donald Trump, which came into force in October. However, Israel delayed the move until the body of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza was returned, an event confirmed last week by the Israeli military.
For many in Gaza, the reopening is seen as a vital lifeline after months of isolation. Yet relief is tempered by frustration: only a small number of people will be allowed to cross each day, and no goods or humanitarian aid will pass through Rafah. Aid entering from Egypt continues to be rerouted through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing.
Israeli media report that just 50 patients per day, accompanied by one or two relatives, will be permitted to leave Gaza for medical treatment abroad. A similar number of Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return. Local hospitals and the World Health Organization estimate that around 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians are awaiting evacuation for care.
Among them is Sabrine al-Da’ma, who hopes to travel with her 16-year-old daughter Rawa, suffering from kidney disease. Speaking to the BBC, she said the war and food shortages had worsened her daughter’s condition, forcing her onto dialysis. Al-Da’ma plans to donate one of her kidneys and fears time is running out.
Egyptian media close to the country’s intelligence services confirmed that the first group of Palestinians returning from Egypt had already crossed into Gaza, describing the move as part of Cairo’s efforts to facilitate movement through Rafah.
Before its seizure by Israel in 2024, Rafah was Gaza’s main exit point for civilians and a crucial entry route for humanitarian aid. More than 30,000 Gazans have since registered with the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, seeking permission to return.
The crossing’s reopening comes against the backdrop of a devastating conflict. Israel’s military campaign, launched after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, has resulted in more than 71,790 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
(Associated Medias) – all rights reserved
L’articolo Rafah Crossing Reopens, Offering Gaza a Narrow Gateway to the Outside World proviene da Associated Medias.
