Rafah Crossing Between Gaza and Egypt Reopens in Both Directions for Palestinians

A highly symbolic reopening. The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which had been closed since May 2024, reopened on Monday, February 2, allowing residents to cross the border under very strict conditions.

The reopening of the border, which had been demanded by the UN and humanitarian organizations, will, for now, remain closed to international aid entering the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by two years of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

An Israeli official announced on Monday morning the opening of the border crossing in both directions for residents, following the arrival of the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Rafah.

According to an Egyptian media outlet, initially, 50 people will be allowed to transit each day in both directions during the first days of the reopening.