February 1, 2026 | 08:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has reopened "on a trial basis," Israeli authorities said on Sunday.
The crossing had been nearly completely closed for over two years.
COGAT, the Israeli military unit responsible for civilian administration in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said the crossing was being opened "for limited movement of people only."
In a later statement, it clarified that this was a "pilot" run of the crossing and that a broader reopening was expected for Monday.
The two statements did not mention any plans for the increased entry of international aid.
The head of the new Palestinian committee governing Gaza's daily affairs also said the crossing will open in both directions starting Monday.
How Many People Are to Be Allowed in and Out?
The Gaza Health Ministry said some 20,000 Palestinians await medical care outside the war-torn Gaza Strip, including children, with thousands of other Palestinians hoping to return home still awaiting the opportunity to be able to travel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said 50 patients will be allowed to leave Gaza per day.
Some 50 people will be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip per day. Israel and Egypt will be responsible for vetting those entering and leaving, while the crossing will be supervised by border patrol agents from the European Union.
Should the pilot be successful, the number of people going through the crossing is expected to rise as time goes by.
Why Is the Rafah Crossing Important?
The Rafah crossing with Egypt is the Gaza Strip's only border crossing through which Palestinians could exit and enter the enclave under an Israeli blockade imposed on the territory since Hamas' takeover in 2007.
The Israeli army seized the Rafah crossing in May 2024, saying it was part of Hamas' smuggling operations.
Reopening the crossing was stipulated as part of the second phase of a shaky US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The way was paved to move forward to the second stage of the ceasefire after the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in the enclave were recovered early this week.
The reopening comes a day after Israel carried out its heaviest airstrikes in Gaza in weeks.
Israel moves to ban Doctors Without Borders from Gaza
Israel has meanwhile said it is taking steps to stop the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from operating in the Gaza Strip.
Announcing the intended ban, the Diaspora Ministry said MSF had refused to comply with a new registration procedure requiring humanitarian organizations to submit lists of local Palestinian staff.
It said the procedure aimed to stop humanitarian activities being exploited "for hostile activities and terrorism."
The ministry had earlier alleged that two MSF staff members were affiliated with Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, something the charity has vehemently denied.
MSF said on Friday that it had decided not to hand such a list to Israeli authorities, saying it had tried unsuccessfully for months to negotiate with them on safety guarantees for its staff.
Under the ban, the group will have to leave the territory by February 28.
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