Rafah Crossing to Reopen Monday, Offering Lifeline to Gaza's Sick and Wounded

JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Feb 1 (Reuters) – The Rafah border crossing, Gaza's primary gateway to the outside world, is scheduled to reopen on Monday in a closely monitored pilot operation, Israeli authorities announced Sunday. The move marks a significant, if tentative, step toward easing the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged enclave, where the crossing has been largely sealed since May 2024.

Before the conflict, Rafah served as the sole direct exit for most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents and a vital conduit for aid. Its reopening, coordinated with Egypt and the European Union, will initially be limited to pedestrians under what Israel describes as "stringent security checks." It is intended for Palestinians seeking to leave—primarily the sick and wounded requiring treatment unavailable in Gaza's decimated healthcare system—and for those who fled early in the war to return.

The Israeli military unit COGAT, which oversees civilian affairs, stated that a test of the crossing's operational capacity was conducted Sunday. "The movement of residents in both directions is expected to begin tomorrow," it said in a statement. A Palestinian official and a European source confirmed the details.

An Israeli defense official told Reuters the crossing can process 150-200 people daily in total, with more departing than arriving initially, as patients must be accompanied. Egyptian officials said at least 50 patients would cross into Egypt on Sunday, with around 200 people—patients and escorts—expected to cross daily in the first phase, alongside 50 returnees.

For thousands, the reopening cannot come soon enough. The Palestinian Health Ministry estimates 20,000 patients are awaiting permission to leave. Among them is Moustafa Abdel Hadi, a kidney patient at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza awaiting a transplant abroad. "(Rafah) is the lifeline for us, the patients," he said, receiving dialysis. "If the war impacted a healthy person by 1%, it has impacted us 200%."

The reopening fulfills a key requirement of the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan. However, the truce, in effect since October after two years of fighting, remains fragile. Violence has flared repeatedly, including intense Israeli airstrikes on Saturday that killed at least 30 people, which Israel said was a response to a Hamas tunnel breach. Since the ceasefire began, local health officials say Israeli attacks have killed over 500 Palestinians, while Israeli authorities report four soldiers killed by militant fire.

Future phases of the plan envision governance transferred to Palestinian technocrats, Hamas disarming, and an Israeli withdrawal under an international security umbrella. Hamas has so far rejected disarmament, and Israel has warned it will use force if the group does not lay down its weapons peacefully.

Reactions & Analysis:

Dr. Lena Kassis, a public health researcher with Médecins Sans Frontières in Amman: "This is a critical first step, but the scale is utterly insufficient. With 20,000 patients waiting and a capacity of 200 per day, we are looking at a logistical and moral failure. The international community must pressure for expanded access immediately."

David Feld, a former Israeli security official and fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute for Regional Studies: "The reopening is a necessary confidence-building measure. It balances urgent humanitarian needs with legitimate security imperatives. The phased, monitored approach is the only sustainable model to prevent the crossing from being exploited."

Sarah Chen, a policy analyst at the Cairo-based Middle East Council: "While welcome, this move highlights the absurdity of the situation. People are dying from treatable conditions because a border was closed. This isn't a policy achievement; it's the bare minimum rectification of a prolonged injustice."

Marko Ilić, a coordinator with the EU Border Assistance Mission in Rafah: "Our role is to ensure the process is transparent and adheres to agreed protocols. The cooperation between Egyptian, Israeli, and Palestinian authorities on the ground, though complex, has been professional so far. This pilot is a test for all parties."