The Rafah land border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt reopened on Monday after being closed during the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This move represents a long-awaited development, allowing for at least limited movement of people into and out of Gaza.

Prior to the outbreak of the war, Rafah was one of the main border crossings for Gaza, particularly for residents who wanted to leave the enclave. The crossing was then managed by Egyptian authorities and was not under Israeli control.

According to a UN report published in September 2023, shortly before the start of the war, Palestinians were prohibited from leaving Gaza through Israel unless they obtained an Israeli exit permit. Only certain groups of people were eligible to apply for these permits, primarily daily workers, merchants, patients, and their escorts, or humanitarian workers.

In August 2023, Egyptian authorities allowed a total of 19,608 people to leave Gaza. During the same month, 12,076 trucks carrying approved goods arrived in Gaza through crossings controlled by both Israel and Egypt, with 37 percent of the cargo entering Gaza through the Egyptian border.

During the war, the Israeli army announced the launch of a "precise counter-terrorism operation" in the city of Rafah and the assumption of "operational control" over the crossing in early May 2024. The crossing has been out of operation since then.

It is estimated that during the war, between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinians crossed from Gaza into Egypt. Xinhua news agency reporters met with some of them on the outskirts of Cairo, where Gaza residents have reopened restaurants and shops that they previously operated in their home territory.

Following a ceasefire agreement reached in January 2025, the Rafah crossing was briefly opened to transport patients. However, it was closed again after the ceasefire collapsed and fighting resumed in March.

The crossing was reopened again as part of a new peace agreement reached in October 2025, and after the discovery and return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage to Israel in January of this year, although only for limited pedestrian traffic.

According to Palestinian political analyst Akram Atallah, the reopening of the crossing represents a return to life in the Gaza Strip, or at least a signal of a gradual return to normalcy, albeit under limited conditions. He added that this move could be a precursor to the restoration of infrastructure, the resettlement of residents within Gaza, and the return of people who have been trapped abroad for more than two years.

A UN report published at the end of January states that more than 18,500 patients, including 4,000 children, are still waiting for medical evacuation from Gaza to receive treatment that is not available in the enclave.

Reziq Shomar from Gaza City said that the crossing has been "the lifeline of the people of Gaza, especially for the wounded and sick" since its inception. He himself is among the injured and hopes that the crossing will remain open so that he can receive treatment. He also emphasized the need to import medical equipment and the ability to travel for medical care. "This crossing is our lifeline," he added.

Om Ibrahim from Gaza City is also hopeful that the reopening of the crossing will allow for family reunions. Her husband and children are located outside of Palestinian territories. "I am waiting for the opening of the crossing like a blessing. Everything would change completely, everyone is waiting to reunite with their families," she said. She hopes to be able to travel to her husband, while others are waiting for the return of their loved ones.

Analysts view the reopening of the Rafah crossing as a positive step that could alleviate the suffering of the residents of Gaza. However, they also caution that the ceasefire remains fragile and that the region still faces significant challenges. Xinhua/gnews.cz - GH