Preparations have begun for reopening Gaza’s Rafah crossing, officials say

Officials said on 1 February 2026 that preparatory work has started to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, but it remained unclear whether any Palestinians would pass through before the end of the day. COGAT, the Israeli military unit responsible for humanitarian coordination, said the crossing would operate in both directions for Gaza residents on foot only and that the opening would be coordinated with Egypt and the EU. The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024 and served before the war as Gaza’s main route to the outside and a critical aid entry point. Authorities stressed that full pedestrian passage will begin only after preliminary readiness checks and coordination are completed.

Key Takeaways

• Preparations announced: On 1 February 2026, Israeli authorities and partners said they had begun pre-opening steps for Rafah, the Gaza-Egypt crossing.
• Limited mode: COGAT said the crossing would be open to Gaza residents on foot only, with operations coordinated with Egypt and the EU.
• Capacity estimate: An Israeli defence official estimated the crossing could handle roughly 150–200 people in total across both directions per opening cycle.
• Medical priority: The Palestinian health ministry reports about 20,000 patients in Gaza are awaiting evacuation for medical care abroad.
• Lists exchanged: Egypt submitted lists of people to cross and Israel said it had approved them, according to officials.
• Closure timeline: Rafah has been largely shuttered since May 2024, disrupting travel and aid flows.
• Security context: The October ceasefire has been punctured by fresh violence; at least 30 Palestinians were killed in recent Israeli strikes and militants reportedly killed four Israeli troops since the truce began.

Background

The Rafah crossing was the primary gateway for most Palestinians in Gaza to reach Egypt and the wider world before the conflict intensified. It was also a major conduit for humanitarian aid, medical evacuations and commercial movement. Operations have been severely restricted since May 2024, when the crossing largely closed amid the wider hostilities and security concerns. That closure compounded shortages in medical supplies and constrained the ability of patients, students and workers to travel for treatment and other urgent needs.

The ceasefire that took effect in October after two years of fighting reduced large-scale ground operations but did not end intermittent exchanges of fire. Repeated incidents since the truce have undercut confidence in sustained openings at key points such as Rafah. International actors — including the EU and Egypt — have periodically pressed for reopening to permit humanitarian and civilian movement, while Israel has linked access to security screening and lists approved in advance.

Main Event

COGAT announced preliminary preparations on Sunday, describing the measures as a pilot phase to raise readiness for fuller operation. Officials said the initial reopening would allow residents to cross on foot in both directions once technical and security checks were complete. An EU mission source confirmed coordination with Israel and Egypt, and a Palestinian official said the crossing was expected to allow passenger movement on Monday, though Egyptian officials had not immediately commented publicly.

An Israeli defence official told reporters the crossing’s throughput in the initial phase could be limited to 150–200 people in total per operating cycle, and that more people would be leaving Gaza than returning because patients typically travel with escorts. Authorities said Egypt had submitted lists of people authorised to pass and Israel had vetted and approved them. The Palestinian health ministry emphasised the urgency of medical evacuations, saying roughly 20,000 patients in Gaza are waiting for transfer abroad.

The reopening was described by some international actors as a key element of the first phase of a U.S. peace plan, which envisages a sequence of confidence-building steps including limited crossings and humanitarian relief. Nonetheless, recent escalations — including intense airstrikes and reported militant activity near Rafah — have raised doubts about sustained, predictable operation. Israeli officials said stringent security checks will govern any passage and that eligibility will be limited to those approved to leave or return under the lists exchanged with Egypt.

Analysis & Implications

Restoring even limited pedestrian passage at Rafah would carry immediate humanitarian significance. For thousands of patients in Gaza, predictable transfers could mean access to life‑saving treatment unavailable locally. With Palestinian health authorities citing some 20,000 patients awaiting exit, even a small regular throughput could reduce acute cases, though it would fall far short of overall medical need. The constrained capacity estimate of 150–200 people per cycle underlines the gulf between need and available movement.

Politically, reopening Rafah is both a practical relief measure and a test of coordination among Israel, Egypt and international intermediaries like the EU. It also features in broader diplomatic formulas tied to donor and reconstruction plans: early operational openings are often framed as prerequisites for successive political steps. Given recent violations of the October ceasefire and renewed strikes, each reopening risks becoming entangled in security incidents that could reverse progress.

Economically and socially, a sustained reopening would modestly ease the isolation that has battered Gaza’s health, education and commerce. However, because the reopening is pedestrian-only and subject to advance lists and security vetting, the flow of larger-scale aid items and commercial goods will remain constrained unless additional channels are authorised. This narrow operational design creates a scenario in which humanitarian benefit is real but limited in scope.

Comparison & Data

The table summarises closure and recent preparatory steps. It illustrates how the crossing’s operational status has shifted from a pre-war lifeline to a tightly managed, limited conduit. Even if the pilot phase proceeds, throughput constraints and security vetting will limit immediate relief relative to the scale of humanitarian need.

Reactions & Quotes

Preparatory steps are under way to ensure a secure initial opening and to coordinate movement with Egypt and partner institutions.

COGAT (Israeli military coordination unit, official)

Context: COGAT framed the activity as a pilot intended to scale readiness and insisted that actual pedestrian crossings would start only after checks are complete.

We have thousands of patients whose treatment depends on evacuation; any reliable opening is urgently needed.

Palestinian health ministry (official)

Context: The ministry highlighted a backlog of approximately 20,000 patients and urged expedited medical transfers while noting logistical challenges.

EU personnel confirmed coordination with both sides on lists and operational rules for the crossing.

EU mission source (unofficial confirmation)

Context: The EU source corroborated coordination but did not provide a timetable for sustained operation; Egyptian officials had no immediate public comment.

Unconfirmed

• Whether any Palestinians actually passed through Rafah on 1 February 2026 before the end of the day remains unconfirmed by independent observers.
• The exact daily throughput schedule and how often the 150–200 person capacity estimate will repeat have not been publicly detailed by authorities.
• Egypt’s formal public response to the announced preparations was not available at the time of reporting.

Bottom Line

The announced preparatory steps for reopening Rafah represent a cautious, limited advance with clear humanitarian intent, particularly for urgent medical evacuations. However, the projected capacity and pedestrian‑only modality mean immediate relief will be highly constrained relative to the scale of reported need in Gaza.

Operational success will depend on sustained coordination among Israel, Egypt and international intermediaries and on the ability to prevent security incidents from interrupting access. Readers should watch for independent confirmations of actual crossings, the tempo of passage cycles, and any expansions beyond the pilot’s narrow scope.

Sources

• The Guardian — News report summarising official statements and field reporting