Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday after months of pressure from humanitarian organisations, although the reopening currently allows only the movement of people.
The decision came amid continued violence despite a ceasefire in Gaza. The territory’s civil defence agency reported dozens killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, while the Israeli military said it was responding to alleged breaches of the truce.
Rafah serves as a crucial gateway for civilians and humanitarian aid but has remained shut since Israeli forces took control of it in May 2024 during the war with Hamas, apart from a brief and limited reopening earlier this year.
The Israeli defence ministry body overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, COGAT, said the crossing reopened on Sunday “for the limited passage of residents only”. A Gaza health ministry official said about 200 patients were waiting to leave the territory once movement began.
A Palestinian official also confirmed that around 40 Palestinians linked to the Palestinian Authority had arrived on the Egyptian side of the crossing to enter Gaza and begin work.
Israel had earlier insisted it would not reopen Rafah until the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, were returned. His body was recovered days ago and buried on Wednesday, with COGAT announcing the reopening shortly afterwards.
According to COGAT, movement through the crossing will take place in coordination with Egypt, subject to Israeli security clearance, and under European Union supervision. The agency described Sunday’s reopening as a pilot phase, aimed at preparing for full operations.
Sources at the crossing said a wider reopening was planned for Monday, although no agreement has yet been reached on the number of Palestinians permitted to travel. Egypt has indicated it will admit all those Israel authorises to leave.
Many Gazans expressed hope as they waited anxiously. Mohammed Shamiya, a 33-year-old kidney patient requiring dialysis abroad, said every day of delay worsened his condition. Safa al-Hawajri, 18, who has secured a scholarship overseas, said she hoped to travel as soon as the crossing fully reopened.
Rafah, located on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, remains the only crossing into and out of the territory not controlled directly by Israel. Although Israeli forces have withdrawn behind the so-called Yellow Line under a US-brokered ceasefire that began on 10 October, they still control more than half of Gaza.
The reopening is expected to allow the entry of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a 15-member technocratic body set up under the ceasefire to manage daily governance. However, a committee member said its head had not yet received a date for entry, despite Israeli approval.
The committee called on mediators and the United States to speed up operations at the crossing and increase the number of travellers permitted to pass.