Preparations underway at Rafah crossing as limited travel to Gaza set to resume

Preparations were underway at Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, a day after Israel announced that limited travel to and from the Palestinian territory would resume from Monday, marking a significant step forward under the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Israeli authorities said the crossing was opened on a trial basis and would initially allow a small number of people, including medical patients, to pass through each day under joint Israeli-Egyptian vetting and European Union supervision.

The Rafah crossing, seen by Palestinians as Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has remained largely closed since Israel seized control of the area in May 2024 amid the war with Hamas. Its reopening follows years of near-total isolation for Gaza’s residents and comes after prolonged negotiations linked to the ceasefire agreement that began in October. While movement will be limited at first and goods will not yet be allowed, officials said the number of travellers could increase gradually if the process proves successful, offering cautious hope for relief to thousands awaiting medical evacuation or return home.