Rafah border crossing

Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on February 1, 2026, allowing a limited number of people to cross on foot. The move enabled a small number of Palestinians to leave Gaza, while permitting some who had fled the conflict to return to the enclave for the first time.

The Rafah crossing, located in Israeli-held territory, was once part of a city that had a population of nearly 2.5 lakh residents before being completely demolished and depopulated during the war. It remains the only exit and entry point for almost all of Gaza’s over 2 million inhabitants.

Background

• The crossing had been largely shut for most of the Gaza war, severely restricting civilian movement.
• Israel seized control of the Rafah crossing in May 2024, around nine months into the conflict.
• The Gaza war was brought to a fragile halt by a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.