Rafah Crossing Reopens to Limited Traffic in Gaza

Rafah Border Crossing Reopens After Two-Year Closure

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has reopened for limited traffic, following a two-year closure. The crossing, which is Gaza’s sole entry point to Egypt, was reopened as part of the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended hostilities between Israel and Hamas in October.

According to officials, the crossing will operate with restrictions, with caps on the number of travelers allowed to pass through. Israeli security checks will be conducted on Palestinians entering and exiting Gaza, while European monitoring teams will administer the Palestinian side of the crossing.

The Egyptian government has confirmed that 50 Palestinians will cross in each direction on the first day of operation. The Israeli army has set up a checkpoint called “Regavim” outside the crossing to screen arrivals against approved lists and conduct thorough searches of their belongings.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing is seen as a vital step for humanitarian supplies and medical evacuations, which have been severely impacted by the closure. According to reports, more than 20,000 Palestinians are in urgent need of medical treatment abroad, while thousands more have fled Gaza since the war began.

The United Nations has reported that about 100,000 Palestinians have left Gaza since the conflict started, with many seeking medical care outside the territory. The reopening of the crossing is expected to alleviate some of this pressure, but restrictions on travel will likely limit its impact.

Source: Al Jazeera