Israel Partially Reopens Gaza's Rafah Crossing After About Two Years Of Closure

After about two years, Israel on Sunday partially reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt as part of trial.

“Today, a pilot is underway to test and assess the operation of the crossing. The movement

of residents in both directions, entry and exit to and from Gaza, is expected to begin tomorrow,” COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid in Gaza, said in a statement.

Reuters quoted a Palestinian official and a European source close to the EU mission confirming the details.

Gaza’s main border crossing in Rafah will reopen for Palestinians on Monday, Israel said, with preparations underway at the war-ravaged enclave’s main gateway that has been largely shut for almost two years https://t.co/fwuDVsxQRM pic.twitter.com/CgPgCDo0Lv

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 1, 2026

Previously, COGAT said that only “limited movement of people” would be allowed. Entry and exit will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, following prior Israeli security clearance, and will be supervised by European Union officials.

Reuters quoted an Israeli defence official saying the crossing can hold between 150-200 people altogether in both directions. The official further said that more people would be leaving Gaza than returning as patients leave together with escorts.

Also Read: ‘Limited Movement’: Israel To Reopen Rafah Crossing After 2 Years Of Gaza War

“(The Rafah crossing) is the lifeline for us, the patients. We don’t have the resources to be treated in Gaza,” said Moustafa Abdel Hadi, a kidney patient in a central Gaza hospital, awaiting a transplant abroad. “If the war impacted a healthy person by 1%, it has impacted us 200%.”

The crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024. Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return once they receive Israeli security clearance.

The reopening marks a key step for US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel had previously resisted reopening the crossing, but the recovery of the last hostage’s remains on Monday cleared the way for movement to resume.

Israel’s military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the Gaza war, Israeli media reported on Friday, citing senior military officials. The figure aligns closely with estimates published by Gaza’s health ministry.

The Gaza health ministry has reported over 71,000 deaths, including more than 480 since a US-brokered ceasefire began in October. Thousands more are believed to remain buried under rubble. Most of the dead are identified as women or children.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, with more than 470 Israeli soldiers also dead during the conflict.