Rafah Crossing to Reopen Sunday Under Strict Controls After Israeli Seizure
The gateway to the world for Palestinians in Gaza—the Rafah border crossing to Egypt—is scheduled to reopen this Sunday, following a prolonged closure after it was seized by Israel in May 2024. This significant development, announced by Israeli authorities on Friday, marks a critical step as part of the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. The reopening raises hopes for thousands of war-wounded Palestinians seeking medical treatment abroad and for tens of thousands stranded outside Gaza hoping to return home. However, initial operations will be highly restricted, with only a limited number of individuals permitted to cross each day.
Initial Operations and Strict Oversight
Officials have confirmed that the Rafah crossing will operate under stringent controls from the outset. Israeli, Egyptian, and European Union personnel will oversee the new arrangements, ensuring that only dozens of Palestinians are allowed through daily, with no goods permitted at this stage. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, stated in a recent announcement that starting Sunday, there will be a "limited movement of people only" through the crossing. This follows earlier statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, the newly appointed head of the Palestinian administrative committee for Gaza, indicating that reopening was imminent.
Ali Shaath emphasized the symbolic importance of this move, noting in a January 22 video posted by the White House on X that "Opening Rafah signals Gaza is no longer closed to the future and to the world." Before publicizing Shaath's commitment, the United States had been actively pressing both Israel and Hamas to advance into the ceasefire's second phase, which was bolstered by the recent recovery of the final hostage in Gaza, completing a key component of the initial phase.
Medical Evacuations and Return of Displaced Persons
Preparations are currently focused on allowing a limited number of medical evacuees to leave Gaza first, representing a significant shift from pre-war practices where most exits occurred through Israel, according to World Health Organization data. There are conflicting reports regarding daily crossing capacities: one Israeli official, speaking anonymously in line with protocol, suggested that 50 Palestinians would be allowed in and 50 out each day, while another source familiar with discussions indicated 50 entries and 150 exits daily.
Regardless of the exact numbers, these limited rates mean a prolonged wait for many of the estimated 20,000 sick and wounded individuals identified by Gaza's health ministry as needing external treatment. At a rate of 50 evacuations per day, it would take over a year for all to depart. Historically, priority for evacuation has been given to children, cancer patients, and those suffering from physical trauma, with most receiving care in Egypt. Medical evacuees typically exit with escorts, and it is likely that two escorts will be permitted per evacuee under the new arrangements.
Meanwhile, at least 30,000 Palestinians have registered with the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo for return to Gaza, according to an embassy official who spoke anonymously due to the ongoing discussions about reopening details.
Control and Screening Procedures
A complex web of international oversight will govern the Rafah crossing, involving Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and a European Union mission, but Israel retains ultimate control over who enters or exits. COGAT has clarified that Israel and Egypt will vet Palestinians for entry and exit, while European border patrol agents manage the crossing itself. Those who fled during the conflict and receive clearance from Israel may return under these terms.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel's military controls the area between the Rafah crossing and the main Palestinian residential zones. COGAT will provide bus transportation to and from the crossing, as confirmed by an Israeli official speaking anonymously. Additional screenings will be conducted at the edge of the zone for Palestinians travelling to the crossing, a process historically managed by Israeli soldiers and private U.S. contractors. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated on Tuesday that "Anyone entering or exiting undergoes our inspection, a full inspection."
Officers from the EU Border Assistance Mission and the Palestinian Authority will operate the crossing, with plainclothes Palestinian Authority officers stamping passports—a practice reminiscent of brief ceasefires in early 2025 and pre-2007 when Hamas took control. Netanyahu acknowledged that bureaucrats with histories in Hamas or the Palestinian Authority may be involved, reflecting the complex governance dynamics in Gaza.
Historical Context and Future Uncertainties
Even before the war, Palestinians faced heavy restrictions at Rafah. In 2022, the United Nations recorded over 133,000 entries and 144,000 exits, though many involved repeat crossings by the same individuals. Egyptian authorities allowed imports on 150 days that year, with more than 32,000 trucks of goods entering. Restrictions have often mirrored regional politics: Egypt and Israel imposed a blockade after Hamas seized power in 2007, reopened it post-Egypt's 2011 revolution, and closed it again in 2013 after the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi. Subsequent years saw gradual reopenings, but inconsistent access led to a thriving tunnel economy beneath the crossing, which served as an economic lifeline for Gaza and a conduit for weapons, with Hamas collecting significant revenues from taxes and customs.
Several details about the reopening remain unclear, including when trucks will be allowed through, what items Palestinians can bring, and how long daily caps on entries and exits will persist. This uncertainty poses challenges for humanitarian organizations aiming to increase aid into Gaza, where shortages of medical supplies, fuel, and essentials are widespread. The United Nations has called for the crossing to open for "both humanitarian cargo and private sector cargo, which is critically important for reviving the economy in Gaza," as spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted on Wednesday. U.N. deputy Middle East coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov highlighted ongoing issues with "delays and denials of cargo at crossings and limited routes available for transporting supplies within Gaza."
Netanyahu has emphasized that his focus remains on disarming Hamas and destroying its remaining tunnels, a challenging aspect of the ceasefire's second phase. He stated that reconstruction in Gaza will not proceed without demilitarization, positioning Israel's control over the Rafah crossing as a potential key leverage point in future negotiations.
