The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt partially reopened Monday, a significant step in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The limited reopening will allow some foot traffic in and out of the Palestinian enclave, enabling small numbers in need of medical aid to leave Gaza and letting some people return to the territory.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military agency COGAT, Shimi Zuaretz, confirmed to NBC News that the crossing had reopened at 2 a.m. ET. He was unable to say how many people had crossed so far.
COGAT had said Sunday the crossing would reopen only for the movement of people. It earlier warned that the crossings at Rafah would be limited and would involve security clearance by Israel.
European Union border officers are expected to assist with operations at the crossing, consistent with past operations in Rafah. Shadi Othman, media officer at the European Union Office in Jerusalem, told NBC News on Monday the re-opening would allow dozens of patients to leave Gaza, while dozens of people would enter from the Egyptian side.
Patients in wheelchairs wait for transfer to Egypt for treatment, on Monday in Khan Younis, Gaza.Abdallah F.s. Alattar / Anadolu via Getty Images
“This is today’s plan,” Othman said. “We will wait until the end of the day to see what will happen and to know the final number of those who depart and those who enter.”
The crossing in Gaza’s southernmost city has been nearly completely closed since May 2024, as Israel conducted a massive offensive launched in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terror attack. The conflict was brought to a halt last October by a ceasefire brokered in part by the United States.
The closure of the Rafah crossing, which has long been one of the only gateways to the rest of the world for Palestinians in Gaza, cut off an important route for the sick or injured to get medical care outside the war-ravaged enclave. Hospitals and other life-saving infrastructure inside Gaza has been largely destroyed or badly damaged in the Israeli offensive.
NBC News Top Stories
About the Author
