Palestinians Begin Crossing into Gaza as Rafah Border Reopens After Over a Year

RAFAH (VINnews) — Palestinians started arriving Monday at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing to enter the Gaza Strip, marking the first time the crossing has opened for pedestrian movement in over a year, according to Palestinian media reports and Israeli officials.

The crossing, which connects Gaza with Egypt, resumed limited operations after Israeli authorities conducted systems checks and tests on Sunday. It is now allowing the passage of pedestrians in both directions as part of the initial phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Those returning to Gaza pass through the Rafah crossing, where a team of Palestinian Authority representatives and European Union monitors are stationed on the Egyptian side. They then undergo security screening at an Israeli Defense Forces checkpoint. Israeli supervision of exits from Gaza to Egypt is conducted remotely.

The reopening is a key step in the ceasefire agreement, which has been in effect since October, though the crossing has remained largely closed since Israel seized it in May 2024. Initial traffic is limited to pedestrians, with no goods or humanitarian aid trucks passing through Rafah at this stage. Reports indicate small numbers are expected to cross initially, with some sources citing around 50 people in each direction on the first day.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry stated that Palestinians seeking to leave the Strip for medical treatment abroad must continue using the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, a route employed throughout the conflict.

“Regarding the travel of patients through the Rafah crossing, there is no new information at the moment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The limited reopening has been described by officials as a pilot phase, with potential for expanded operations if successful. It provides a long-awaited pathway for some displaced Palestinians to return home and offers hope for those needing access to external medical care, though thousands of patients reportedly remain in need of evacuation.