Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Truce, Offering Glimmer of Hope for Gaza
CAIRO/JERUSALEM — After months of closure and diplomatic deadlock, the Rafah border crossing—Gaza's primary gateway to the outside world—partially reopened Monday under the terms of the fragile Israeli-Hamas ceasefire. Egyptian and Israeli officials confirmed the move, describing it as a crucial confidence-building measure, though initial traffic will be minimal and tightly controlled.
An Egyptian official involved in the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the crossing would initially allow 50 Palestinians to cross in each direction daily. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office separately confirmed the arrangement, stating that 50 medical patients would be permitted to exit Gaza each day, each accompanied by two relatives. A similar number of Palestinians who left the territory during the conflict will be allowed to return.
For now, the reopening is largely symbolic. No commercial goods will be allowed through, and the numbers pale in comparison to the overwhelming need. Gaza health officials estimate some 20,000 sick and wounded, including many children, await evacuation for urgent medical care, while thousands of displaced Palestinians seek to return home.
"This isn't about free movement; it's a tightly choreographed first step," said a Western diplomat familiar with the arrangements. Vetting for all travelers will be conducted jointly by Israel and Egypt, with European Union border agents and a small Palestinian contingent present for supervision. Officials hope that if this initial phase proves successful, the flow of people can gradually increase.
The crossing's status has been a major point of contention. Israel seized control of the Gaza side in May 2024, citing arms-smuggling concerns, and had resisted its reopening. The recovery last week of the remains of the last known hostage held in Gaza removed a final obstacle. Egypt, historically wary of any permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, had insisted the crossing must reopen to allow movement in both directions.
The reopening signals the ceasefire agreement, which took effect last October, is advancing into its fraught second phase. The first phase focused on hostage-prisoner exchanges and aid increases. The next stage is far more complex, envisioning the formation of a new Palestinian governance committee for Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, and steps toward disarmament and reconstruction—goals that remain deeply contentious.
Before the war, which began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Rafah was the main passenger crossing for Gaza's 2.3 million residents. Its reopening, however limited, offers a tangible, if small, sign of progress amid the devastation.
Voices & Reaction:
"My sister has been waiting for cancer treatment for eight months. Fifty people a day? At that rate, hope itself becomes a form of torture. This is a political gesture, not a humanitarian solution." — Layla Hassan, 34, teacher in Khan Younis (comment provided via messaging app).
"Any opening is a positive step. The mechanisms being put in place—joint vetting, international monitors—are essential for security and for building trust. We have to start somewhere, and this is that start." — David Chen, senior analyst at the Regional Security Institute.
"It's a trap. Netanyahu agrees to this tiny crack in the siege only because the world is watching and to get to the next phase where he hopes to install a puppet administration. He wants the optics of cooperation without the substance of freedom." — Amir Khalidi, political commentator and columnist.
"For families torn apart, this means everything. My elderly parents in Cairo might finally see their grandchildren. It's a thread of light. We must protect this thread and make it stronger." — Rana Al-Masri, journalist based in Cyprus.
Reporting was contributed from Jerusalem.
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