Rafah Crossing to Reopen Under Strict Limits, Easing Gaza Exodus but Raising New Questions
GAZA, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Israel is expected to reopen the Rafah border crossing to Egypt on Monday, officials said, permitting limited pedestrian movement for the first time since its forces seized control of the vital gateway last May. The partial reopening will allow some Palestinians to exit the war-battered Gaza Strip and could enable the return of others who fled the conflict.
The access, however, will be heavily restricted. Israeli authorities have mandated stringent security checks for all individuals crossing in either direction. Both Israel and Egypt are also expected to impose daily caps on the number of travelers, a measure likely to create long queues and uncertainty for families seeking to reunite or access medical care abroad.
The Rafah crossing's closure nine months into the Gaza war severed a crucial lifeline. While a few thousand critically ill patients have been transferred via Israel over the past year, U.N. agencies report that thousands more remain in urgent need of treatment outside Gaza's decimated healthcare system. The reopening fulfills a key requirement of the first phase of the ceasefire plan brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump in October, which brought a fragile halt to the intense fighting.
Journalist Ban Remains a Flashpoint
Despite the easing of movement for Palestinians, Israel is maintaining its near-total ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza. The policy, in place since the war's onset following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, has been condemned by press freedom groups who argue it deprives the world of independent reporting on a conflict that has caused widespread destruction and displaced most of the enclave's 2 million residents.
The Foreign Press Association's petition to Israel's Supreme Court challenges the ban. Government lawyers contend that allowing journalists in could endanger Israeli military operations and the reporters themselves. The FPA counters that the continued access granted to aid and U.N. personnel undermines the safety argument and highlights a troubling information gap.
Fragile Truce Under Strain
The reopening occurs against a backdrop of simmering violence that threatens the ceasefire. Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, described as some of the most intense since October, killed at least 30 people in what Israel called a response to a Hamas violation. Health officials in Gaza report over 500 Palestinian fatalities since the truce began, while militants have killed four Israeli soldiers.
Trump's broader roadmap for Gaza, now in its second phase, envisions a handover to Palestinian technocrats, Hamas's disarmament, and an Israeli withdrawal during reconstruction. Israeli officials have publicly expressed skepticism that Hamas will relinquish its weapons, with some suggesting the military is preparing for a potential resumption of hostilities.
Voices from the Region:
"This is a cruel tease," said Leila Hassan, a teacher in Khan Younis whose son needs cancer treatment unavailable in Gaza. "They open a door but only a crack. We are told we can leave, but the lists are controlled, the checks are humiliating, and the chances are slim. It feels designed to give the illusion of progress while changing nothing."
"Any movement is positive," stated David Cohen, a former Israeli diplomat. "The reopening is a necessary, incremental step in the Trump administration's phased plan. It addresses immediate humanitarian needs while maintaining security protocols. Stability is built piece by piece."
"The continued journalist blackout tells you everything," argued Marcus Thorne, a foreign correspondent based in Cairo. "They are managing the narrative as tightly as they are managing the border. If the situation on the ground was stabilizing as described, why fear independent eyes? This isn't about security; it's about control."
"My aunt in Rafah has been waiting months to return to what's left of her home," shared Amal Farah, a graduate student in Alexandria. "This news brings her hope, but also fear. Will she be allowed in? Will it be safe? It's a small relief overshadowed by the same old anxieties."
(Reporting by Haseeb Alwazeer; Additional reporting by Rami Ayyub; Writing by Reuters Staff; Editing by Timothy Heritage)