Israel permitted a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt on 2 February 2026, the first such movement since the crossing was closed in May 2024. The partial reopening allowed 150 people to leave Gaza and 50 to enter daily, according to Egyptian officials. The crossing had been closed for over 20 months, cutting off a critical lifeline for medical evacuations, travel, and trade. Israel cited the need to prevent weapons smuggling by Hamas as the reason for the closure. The move followed fragile diplomatic efforts to stabilise the conflict.
Only 27 people had crossed by nightfall on the first day, including five patients escorted by two relatives each, according to Palestinian and Egyptian sources. A further 38 individuals had not cleared Israeli security checks and remained on the Egyptian side. Palestinian officials attributed delays to Israeli security screening procedures. Ambulances waited for hours at the border before transporting patients across after sunset, as shown in footage from Egyptian state-run television.
The World Health Organization reported that 900 people, including children and cancer patients, had died while awaiting evacuation. Over 4,000 people with official referrals for treatment abroad had been unable to cross. Médecins Sans Frontières noted that more than one in five of those registered for medical evacuation were children. The healthcare system in Gaza had been severely degraded by Israeli airstrikes, including the destruction of the territory’s only specialised cancer treatment hospital in March 2025.